Council could see finalized West Homewood development code in May (Slideshow)

Following its presentation to the public on March 14, a new form-based development code for West Homewood will soon be on its way to the City Council.

Philip Amthor, senior planner with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPC), said the code would be adapted a final time based on public input from the viewing. After that, it will be developed into an ordinance for the city to adopt. Amthor said the ordinance could be in front of the council as early as its first meeting in May.

“After this, we will take recommendations from the Homewood Planning Commission and vote to adopt the zoning changes they recommend,” Homewood City Council member Fred Hawkins said. “Then, we start negotiating with developers, current owners and newly interested parties, some of which have already come to us.”

Hawkins said several community residents have already approached him and indicated they will consider opening businesses and restaurants in the neighborhood once the code takes effect.

Homewood has already laid groundwork to both show its commitment to the development of the area and insure its success. Hawkins said the City purchased a former service station site at the corner of Oxmoor and Oak Grove Roads and intends to use the property as an incentive to recruit a business to the area. The new business would be constructed under the form-based code and provide a catalyst for development.

“I think this plan is great,” Hawkins said, “but it’s not a silver bullet. West Homewood is not going to develop overnight. You’ve got to got to lay groundwork to make something happen.”

Hawkins is responsible for the project gaining traction in Homewood City government. Two years ago he teamed with a neighbor, and the two came up with the idea for a broad development plan. His partner was Kyle D’Agastino, an architect with GA Studio in Birmingham, the firm responsible for designing Homewood Middle School and the new Children’s Alabama building in Downtown.

Hawkins said after he and D’Agastino heard Mayor Scott McBrayer’s plan for capital improvements in West Homewood, which included a new park, greenway and road, they started brainstorming.

“I thought we that probably had an opportunity to connect a few more dots,” D’Agastino said. “These projects have synergy when thought of together, so I recommended the Regional Planning Commission to the Mayor, Council and Fred to figure out how to connect them to make something bigger.”

RPC received approximately $100,000 to develop the plan, $80,000 in federal grant money and $20,000 in matching funds from the City of Homewood. And since its first public meeting in October 2012, Amthor said he’s heard from property owners, business owners and developers who are all excited about the code.

“If I had money, I would buy as many properties in West Homewood as I could,” Amthor said. “I’m serious.”