Planning commission plans to dissolve CDRC, recommends Brookwood construction

Though the planning commission had originally intended to discuss adding at-large community members to the West Homewood community development review committee (CDRC) at its June 2 meeting, commission members ultimately decided to dissolve the CDRC instead.

The idea of adding two residents to the CDRC was originally proposed to give the West Homewood community a voice in approving developments in their district. Commission members stated during the meeting that they favored this idea if the committee continued to exist.

Greg Cobb of the engineering, planning and zoning department said during the planning commission’s public hearing that he doesn’t see why West Homewood needs a CDRC when other districts do not have one. He noted that several commission members already had Homewood ties.

“The planning commission is made of more West Homewood people than anything,” Cobb said. “I think they’re very well-represented by some very good people.”

His suggestion to return to bringing development requests before the planning commission instead was viewed favorably by commission members. Council liaison Fred Hawkins added that scheduling is already a challenge for CDRC members, and this problem would be compounded if other districts asked for such a committee of their own.

West Homewood is unique in the city with its use of a new form-based zoning code, which was the reason for the CDRC’s creation. However, Hawkins said it is being considered for other districts, especially in the Little Donkey area. Commission member Mark Woods said that if the zoning code is strictly followed, he feels it will eliminate a lot of the development concerns that West Homewood residents have.

The commission decided it would be better to amend the current form-based zoning code to reflect West Homewood’s needs and remove the CDRC. The amendments discussed during the meeting included new wording, removal of repetitive sections and changing all references to the CDRC to the planning commission. Members also discussed lowering building height limits to 40 feet and finding a way to remove lodging from the allowed uses within the district.

They carried over the agenda item to the July meeting, when they plan to formally dissolve the committee and make the other amendments. In the meantime, the CDRC will continue to operate. The commission chose not to vote on adding at-large members because it would take 30 days for the amendment to take effect, rendering it useless.

At the same meeting, the commission gave its recommendation to a plan by Brookwood Medical Center to rezone the parcel at 525 Brookwood Blvd. to Institutional District for the construction of a 125,000-square-foot orthopedics pavilion and 500-car parking structure.

Jon Rasmussen of Gonzalez and Strength presented the plan, which was met with concern from some residents and doctors living and working nearby. Their concerns included increased traffic and potential construction hazards, as a 2012 project had caused severe sewer flooding.

Rasmussen responded to these concerns with the hospital’s plans to add a southbound left turn lane and other intersection improvements on Brookwood Boulevard. He also informed the commission that the new construction has a smaller physical footprint than previous projects and more natural buffers between it and other buildings. There will not be a large-scale sewer extension project like the one that caused problems in 2012.

The commission gave its recommendation to the project, which will come before the city council for approval.