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Vote postponed on Exceptional Foundation expansion
Architects for The Exceptional Foundation presented proposed renderings of the new youth center.
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1610 Oxmoor Road
1610 Oxmoor Road is located to the left of 1612, just down Oxmoor Road from the Exceptional Foundation.
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Photo by Madoline Markham.
1612 Oxmoor Road
1612 Oxmoor Road is located directly to the left of The Execeptional Foundation on Oxmoor Road.
Approximately 100 residents turned out for the March 31 Homewood City Council meeting, most to protest a proposed expansion by The Exceptional Foundation. Their presence — and many of the points they raised during the public hearing — led the Council to postpone a vote on the proposal until its April 14 meeting.
Until that time, the rezoning of two lots on Oxmoor Road from Neighborhood Preservation District to Institution District will be in front of the Council's Planning and Development Committee for review.
“I think we have unique opportunity here,” Council member Vance Moody said. “I would hope maybe we could sit down and talk to community members about these issues about how we can be good neighbors.”
The Exceptional Foundation seeks to expand onto two lots, 1610 and 1612 Oxmoor Road, located behind the Foundation and across the street from West Glenwood Drive. The lots currently contain two residential structures.
The rezoning would allow The Exceptional Foundation to improve the delivery of its services, Foundation Director Tricia Kirk said. The organization seeks to build a youth center and additional parking on the site.
“We aren’t seeking to increase the number of people we serve, but rather enhance what people from across the nation know what we’re doing in Homewood,” Kirk said.
Architects for the Foundation said the building is designed to be one story. One-way access is proposed from Oxmoor Road and designed to exit on Bridge Street.
Concerns were largely voiced by residents of the immediate area who said they supported The Exceptional Foundation’s work but didn’t agree with the proposed expansion. Among the concerns listed were tree preservation, maintenance of the area’s visual appeal as a residential district, a possible decrease in property value and a potential increase in traffic along Oxmoor Road.
“I don’t want a full-frontal view of more brick exposure on asphalt pavement,” Stuart Wiggins said.
Council members said they would spend the weeks between this meeting and the next connecting with residents and working with the Foundation. Changes to the initial proposal are expected.
Editor's note: According to Council member Britt Thames, the Homewood Planning Commission voted to recommend the rezoning to Institutional. Following that, it went to the Council's Planning and Development Committee, which voted to send it out with no recommendation.
"This is standard practice when a committee hears an issue before a public hearing has been held," Thames said. "This is true for everything from sign variances to fences. Our committees will almost never give a recommendation before a public hearing has been held."