Homewood council approves Valvoline site plan after developer and operator detail landscaping and operations

The Homewood City Council on Dec. 8 unanimously approved a final development plan for a Valvoline Instant Oil Change at the Green Springs Shopping Center after hearing technical and operational details from the project engineer and a company representative.

Garrett Small, engineer of record with HFAAE, told the council that rotating the building to change its orientation was infeasible because doing so would require altering access radii, reduce safe vehicle queuing and conflict with a 66-inch storm drain that limits large canopy tree plantings. To address neighborhood appearance and screening concerns, Small said the developer changed the overhead door color to a darker finish and added understory plantings, including flowering dogwoods and denser shrubs, and provided updated renderings at the meeting.

A Valvoline representative who signed in said the location would perform preventive maintenance only — oil, filter and fluid changes — and would not perform heavy mechanical work or tire changing on site. The representative said operations typically take about 15 minutes per vehicle and estimated 50–60 customers per day; the representative emphasized the business is "very quiet" and noted that doors can be kept closed during operations if the council requires it. Garrett Small reiterated that the additional landscaping shown in the renderings was an official proffer and that he will continue to refine planting plans with the city.

Councilors pressed for clarity on screening height and how quickly landscaping would fill in; Small said smaller trees and denser shrubs often establish faster than larger specimen trees and offered to provide more detailed planting plans. Councilors confirmed the updated renderings and landscaping commitments as part of the public record before a vote.

Councilor Armstead moved to approve the final development plan; Councilor Simmons seconded and the motion passed 5–0. The ordinance number is transcribed in the meeting record as "20 63." The planning department was directed to file the proffered renderings and landscaping plan in the project record.

The council’s approval follows a Nov. 24 public hearing and a first reading of the ordinance. The transcript records no public opposition at the Dec. 8 meeting; staff and the applicant provided the clarifications requested by councilors prior to the final vote.