Planning Commission approves Samford construction request

The Homewood Planning Commission approved two development-plan cases at their meeting Tuesday night.

The first involved an amended request by Samford University to construct three new buildings on its campus.

The buildings would be used as dormitory housing for Greek life, and would be located on a current parking lot adjacent to other Greek housing.

Two of the buildings would be 64-bed structures, and the third would house 72.

LBYD, Inc. engineer Curtis Eatman, who represented Samford at the meeting, explained to the commission that even by removing the parking lot, Samford would be within the city’s parking requirements. Samford is currently required to have 2,784 parking spaces, based on classroom capacity and square footage, and the school currently has 5,328 spaces.

The Commission’s approval was contingent on the Board of Zoning Adjustments approving the project’s needed height variance. The Board was said to vote on the matter at its Thursday, Jan. 7 meeting.

The second request was for the approval of a final development plan for a proposed ServisFirst Bank at 2500 Woodcrest Place. The bank would be 97,600 square feet, and would have three drive-through tellers.

No variances will be required for the height of the building, because it already falls under a zoning code that allows for the proposed height.

Next, the cases will go in front of the Homewood City Council for final approval.