The Homewood Planning Commission recommended this month that City Council remove "minor vehicle repair" as a permitted use in the Green Springs Urban Redevelopment District (GERD) and asked council to adopt a clear definition of that term before taking final action.

The commission, acting at its January 2026 meeting, voted to forward the text amendment as a recommendation after staff said the change was prompted by concerns raised at City Council following the approval of a Valvoline instant oil facility. "City council expressed concern that similar facilities were not in keeping with the vision that they had for the Green Springs quarter," staff said during the meeting.

The commission's action would strike the subsection of Article 4 that describes restrictions for minor vehicle repair and remove the allowed designation for that use in the GERD permitted-use chart. Commissioners also asked that City Council and the city attorney adopt a working definition of "minor vehicle repair" — potentially modeled on the West Homewood District's definition for "auto or motor vehicle service" — so the scope of the change is clear.

Residents who spoke at the public-comment portion supported the deletion. Beverly Labeouf, 617 Edgemoor Drive, recounted past contests over Green Springs development and said removing repair uses would prevent future intrusions: "I really think this would be a positive step for the GERD in helping us to upgrade that," she said. Ravi Patel, 606 Bristol Lane, urged a broader, deliberate approach and pointed to investments already made along the corridor: the city "wanted to make that area, make it more pedestrian friendly, add bike lanes, greenery," he said, and warned that piecemeal changes risk undercutting a boulevard-style vision.

Commission discussion centered on the timing and scope of the change. Several commissioners said they favored returning the GERD to its original intent but advised City Council to consider the commission's recommendation after input from the forthcoming comprehensive plan and after clarifying what "minor vehicle repair" will include. Staff and commissioners also explained how existing nonconforming uses could be affected, noting that "extended" use can mean adding a new, nonconforming activity inside an existing footprint (for example, an oil-change shop that later began selling tires).

The motion to recommend the deletion was made by Mister Henninger and was seconded on the record. Mister Stamps announced an abstention; Commissioners Sims, Henninger, Underwood, Respiento, Wilcutt and Chair Roberts voted yes. The commission will forward a 6–0 recommendation with one abstention to City Council for consideration.

The commission and staff noted the city is launching a citywide comprehensive plan process that will include a kickoff meeting on January 28 and ward-level workshops this spring, which staff said would be an opportunity for residents to meet consultants and provide input on Green Springs redevelopment. The Planning Commission adjourned following the vote.