Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors urge stronger stormwater, tree and habitat protections for Samford plan
Summary
During public comment on Samford’s South Campus project, residents pressed developers for concrete stormwater measures, exact tree‑removal counts and protections for salamander habitat in the Shades Creek corridor; project consultants said detention and water‑quality units will meet City of Homewood standards and that clearing will be limited.
Neighbors at the Homewood Planning Commission meeting highlighted environmental concerns tied to the proposed Samford student‑housing development, focusing on stormwater runoff into Shades Creek, tree removal and wildlife habitat.
Lindy Neighbors told the commission she was worried about increased impervious surface, litter and chemical runoff that could worsen erosion in the Shades Creek corridor. Dee Willis pointed to a plan line saying '900 existing and new parking places' and asked for how many were new versus existing. "If there's 5 existing and 895 new, there's a huge difference in the water drain off," Willis said in public comment.
Project consultants responded: Caleb Martin, engineer, said the team will meet the City of Homewood stormwater ordinance and use water‑quality treatment to remove suspended solids and trash. Landscape architect William Johnson said counts were based on existing surveys but acknowledged that some on‑site pine trees on slopes were not previously included and that the team expects any clearing to be "limited" and verified before construction. He also noted that natural wooded areas along portions of the site will remain.
Commissioners asked for a resurvey and verification of tree counts before final approval. A commissioner later cited a plan figure saying 22 trees would be removed; the commission requested that final tree counts and mitigation measures be submitted with construction documents.
