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Planning commission recommends Samford student housing on South Campus
Summary
The Homewood Planning Commission voted 7–0 to forward Samford University’s South Campus student‑housing development to City Council with conditions including a 715‑foot parapet limit and a required resurvey; commissioners and residents pressed the applicant on stormwater, trees and student crossings.
The Homewood Planning Commission on its August 2026 agenda voted unanimously to forward a proposal from Samford University and Landmark Development to City Council that would add new student housing on the university’s South Campus at University Park Place.
Colin Coyne, Samford’s vice president for finance and business affairs, told the commission the project is intended to expand on‑campus housing and preserve student life: "We're doing it because we've become among the most sought after Christ centered universities in the country," Coyne said in his presentation. He described design choices meant to limit light pollution, avoid encroachment on existing riparian edges near Shades Creek and keep students on Samford property.
Commissioners and several neighbors pressed the applicant on technical details during the public hearing. Caleb Martin of Cadre Engineering told the commission the project "intends to meet the City of Homewood's stormwater ordinance" and that water‑quality measures will be used to remove TSS and trash from runoff. Landscape consultant William Johnson said tree counts were estimated from surveys and that clearing would be "limited," with final counts verified in construction documents.
Samford told the commission the two new buildings would add roughly 494 beds, bringing the campus to about 3,500 beds against an undergraduate population the university said is near 4,500, and that the university aims for roughly 75% of undergraduates to live on campus. The applicant said shuttles (the university's existing 'SamTrams') will serve the Lakeshore crossing during peak hours and that a pedestrian bridge would involve ALDOT and could take about 24–36 months to pursue.
A motion to approve the development plan, subject to a maximum parapet height of 715 feet and a required resurvey returning to the commission, passed 7–0. The case will next be considered by the Homewood City Council.
