Homewood Council holds first hearing on 30,797-sq.-ft. Church; neighbors press for earlier buffer

The Homewood City Council on Jan. 26 opened a public hearing on an amended final development plan to allow construction of a new two-story, 30,797-square-foot building for Homewood Community Church and carried the item to its Feb. 9 meeting for a final vote.

Brian Hatcher of Cadre Engineering described the site plan and access points and said the building would be accessed from Carr Avenue and Green Springs Highway with no direct access from Columbiana Road. Architect Mike O'Kelly said the design places an auditorium at the south end and a two-story classroom wing to the north, with materials expected to be predominantly brick. "We're showing the peak of the roof height at 45, which is the max allowable," O'Kelly said; he told council the two-story portion would be about 33 to 34 feet tall and that parapets will screen rooftop mechanical equipment.

Pastor Tom Franklin said the congregation began seven years ago as a neighborhood church and wants a permanent presence close to residents. The applicants said a traffic study showed no negative impacts to surrounding roadways, that stormwater currently handled in a concrete ditch would be piped under new parking per city regulations, and that no daycare or evening lighting is proposed; the building is intended largely for Sunday use, with the primary service at 9:30 a.m.

Neighbor Julia Quijano told the council she appreciated earlier positive engagement with project staff but remains concerned that promised screening has not yet appeared. "It sounded like [applicants] were looking at bringing [the buffer] about, doing it earlier because it's already been two years that we've been without one," Quijano said, asking the council to ensure the barrier is installed if problems arise. The applicants told the council they are committed to establishing an evergreen buffer (hollies and red cedars) and intend to plant at appropriate times to ensure survival. "We are planning a pretty dense vegetated screen," Hatcher said.

City staff and applicants discussed a 30-foot undisturbed landscape buffer along Columbiana plus an additional planted setback, resulting in roughly a 60-foot effective separation from neighbors; the applicants said they would explore options to accelerate installation without harming existing trees. No action was taken; the council closed the public-comment portion of the hearing and scheduled a vote on the ordinance's second reading for Feb. 9.

If approved, the amended plan would govern uses and restrictions for the parcel in the Green Springs Urban Renewal District; the ordinance was presented as O41225 and was published in advance in accordance with legal notice requirements.