Samford, Landmark present Creekside master plan; commission and neighbors ask for more public engagement and engineering detail

Landmark Development and Samford University presented a multi‑phase Creekside District proposal to the Homewood Planning Commission that would rezone portions of the campus area and authorize a development plan for mixed‑use and institutional uses in the Creekside West and East districts.

Robert Dunn of Landmark Development described the application as the next stage of Samford’s long‑running master plan, a multi‑phase program of roughly “a little over 800,000 square feet” of mixed development that would emphasize pedestrian connections, a proposed pedestrian bridge across Lakeshore Drive, stormwater and watershed stewardship, and “Sanford‑affiliated” residential housing. Dunn said the project team has completed a traffic impact analysis and will continue engineering work and multi‑party community engagement.

The presentation prompted a lengthy public hearing with dozens of residents and advocacy groups speaking. Comments covered concerns about building height and scale, traffic congestion on Lakeshore Drive and surrounding streets, lighting and amplified sound, the impact on Homewood High School circulation and parking, and potential effects on Shades Creek and its vernal pools that support migrating salamanders.

Speakers included Michelle Blackwood of Friends of Shades Creek, who explained the biological importance of vernal pools and salamander migration and said some salamander breeding pools are on the land identified as Creekside East. Several neighbors urged the commission and the applicants to protect the vernal pools and the old‑growth forest and to avoid filling floodplain or floodway areas where the developer has suggested relocating athletic fields.

Other speakers, including longtime residents and former city officials, asked for more time for community engagement, questioned the adequacy of the notice for meetings and suggested the developer coordinate with the Homewood City Schools on impacts to student traffic and facilities. Some residents supported the project as a constructive way to add amenities, tax base and housing options.

After the public comments, Robert Dunn and representatives from Samford (including Colin Coyne) said they were committed to extended engagement and technical work on traffic mitigations, watershed stewardship and design refinement. Dunn told the commission the rezoning and development plan together provide a necessary “framework” to begin detailed engineering and community problem‑solving.

Given the volume of community comment and several commissioners’ requests for more time and answers to specific questions (for example, from the school system), the applicant asked for a continuance. The commission agreed to continue the Creekside rezoning and development plan cases to its next scheduled meeting (the chair announced a continuation to the commission’s April meeting), and the public hearing was closed for the moment.

The continuation gives the applicant time to provide additional study results, clarify building heights and unit counts, address stormwater and floodplain questions, and coordinate further with the Homewood City Schools and neighborhood groups before the commission issues a recommendation to City Council.