Planning commission approves resurvey and final plan for Valvoline at 198 Green Springs Highway

The Homewood Planning Commission on Tuesday approved two related applications to allow a Valvoline quick-service oil-change location at 198 Green Springs Highway. The commission approved a resurvey of the parcel and a final development plan; both votes were unanimous and will go forward to the city council where required permits will be reviewed.

The approvals cover a resurvey (case RS2510O1) enlarging the parcel to include parking previously used by the bank and a final development plan (case FD2510O2) for a roughly 1,600-square-foot building with two service bays and associated repaving, utilities and landscaping. Russell Gartner, civil engineer representing HFA, said, "It's a 1,600 square foot building that we're going on. We're reducing the impervious area ... We've added landscaping here." Parke Grimmer, owner of Green Spring Center LLC, explained the resurvey would bring the rear parking used by the former bank into the parcel to provide a stacking lane for the Valvoline facility.

The commission’s approval of the final development plan is conditioned on separate permitting for signage and on additional screening to soften the building’s appearance from Green Springs Highway. Planning staff noted the development does not trigger perimeter landscaping requirements now because the site has fewer than the threshold number of permanent on-site parking spaces; commissioners discussed asking the applicant to provide screening equivalent to what the landscape ordinance would require if that threshold were met.

Valvoline representatives described operations as a quick-service, oil-change business with most customers remaining in vehicles; one presenter said the operation typically performs about 45–50 oil changes per day. The company said fuel and used-oil handling would occur in a basement collection system; a representative described weekly bulk delivery and pump-out procedures and said used oil would be stored in a double-walled tank in the basement.

Commission discussion covered access and curb cuts, hours of operation and noise. Commissioners and the applicant confirmed that the primary curb-cut configuration will remain the same as the bank’s prior layout, with some existing curb cuts closed and replaced by landscaping. The applicant said the bays would often be open but that doors can be closed automatically for weather or by condition.

Votes: the resurvey (RS2510O1) passed on a roll-call vote with commissioners recorded as voting yes: Miss Wilcutt; Mister Harwell; Mister Respiento; Mister Henninger; Miss Andress; Mister Gulas; Mister Roberts. The final development plan (FD2510O2) was approved by the same recorded 7–0 vote and will proceed to city council for final action and permitting review.

The commission's approvals do not include signage; the applicants were reminded that sign permits are handled separately and must comply with the city sign ordinance. Planning staff and the applicant agreed to work on the extent and form of additional screening during the development plan review process at city council.

Commission action on the cases was limited to the resurvey and final development plan; no construction schedule or building permit issuance date was finalized by the commission. The applications will proceed to the Homewood City Council and the applicants will pursue required permits for signage, building, stormwater and any other permits required by city regulations.