B.M. Montgomery rezoning delayed
The Homewood City Council Monday night delayed a controversial vote to rezone property in Rosedale from Neighborhood Preservation District to Mixed Use District to allow for a residential-studio development.
Terry Slaughter of the Slaughter Group wants to renovate two duplex homes on 2756 B.M. Montgomery Street to provide housing and studio space for a ministry he operates in the community. The ministry currently operates from a home in Rosedale, but Slaughter wants to expand it and move it to the proposed location. The duplexes are currently resides in a Neighborhood Preservation District, but the south end of property requires a mixed-use zoning to add the studio portion. Slaughter also wants to build an office on adjacent property already zoned commercial. Slaughter operates a branding and design firm and plans to open an office in Rosedale.
“The reality is that we’re going to refurbish those duplexes that have been rundown for years, and we’re going to turn them into great housing,” Slaughter said. “We’re just trying to make it mix-used because it keeps commercial from every getting into Rosedale.”
But Rosedale residents were unpersuaded.
“I view this as a gateway process,” said Rosedale resident Sterling Huntley. “Once you start changing from residential and moving properties to mixed use you start getting rid of the residential aspects of the community.”
George Terry said he had gathered a petition with 65 signatures from Rosedale residents who oppose the rezoning. He said residents are also concerned about the traffic that would be generated from the commercial studio. However, Tom Coker, president of Capital Program Management and partner with Slaughter, said parking would be located in the back of the facility and wouldn’t increase traffic.
The council delayed voting on the site plan and the rezoning until its June 9 meeting.
Council President Bruce Limbaugh said the delay should give time for Slaughter to meet with residents and further explain his proposal and his ministry.