By Nathan Prewett
HOOVER – During a meeting on Monday, Nov. 6, the Hoover City Council heard a presentation for a proposed planned unit development that would bring a medical center and a wellness village to the Riverchase area.
This was a first reading for a request to approve a conditional use application for the development project.
The presentation was delivered by Jim Holloway and Doug Jeffords from Corporate Realty, which is the lead developer of the project. The company is seeking to implement the project along a 91-acre tract of land in Riverchase and rezone it to PC or Planned Commercial. The rezoning would allow a mix of commercial and residential uses.
They gave a history of the area in which a unit development plan for Riverchase was adopted in 1991. In 1993 ownership of the 91 acres was transferred to AmSouth, now Regions Bank, and allowed for future office development of 12,000 square foot per acre, amounting to more than 1 million square feet of office. There is now 454,000 square feet available.
“Our proposal or our plan or goal is to convert those into medical uses overtime and also create the village concept and the town center walkability,” said Jeffords.
According to the company’s vision the rezoned area would allow for senior housing, single family housing and entertainment purposes. With potential construction coming to the area though, traffic issues will have to be addressed.
“All that being said we’ve spent a great deal of time worried about the traffic,” he said. “Converting over a million square feet of office to the proposed different uses, peak traffic is at different times. We work with the traffic planning. Obviously there’s going to be some improvements on Riverchase Parkway, which we anticipate and work with the city to define and determine.”
He said that traffic lights on Highway 31 would be retimed, as well as those on Valleydale Road.
Holloway added that they factored connectivity when creating the concept art. He mentioned a trail system that has been mentioned before including a bike and walking trail from the Cahaba to the Riverchase area.
“This would be a key piece that would be tied into that trail system,” he said. “We could build that out and tie it in so that it would connect the walkability, bike riding, and that’s what people want today. And so that from the village standpoint of being able to connect the businesses, connect somewhat nearby neighborhoods and so forth, that’s one of the key components that really ties it all into Wellness Village.”
The matter will be brought up at the next regular meeting scheduled for Nov. 20.
In other business the council:
- Recognized Native American Heritage Month
- Heard a proclamation recognizing the Indian festival of Diwali,
- Approved an alcohol license for Saw BBQ,
- Approved an alcohol license for Inverness Country Club,
- Authorized Mayor Frank Brocato to purchase stop-loss insurance for the city,
- Accepted a change order for the South Sanders Road drainage improvements in the amount of $55,000,
- Made an agreement with Alabama Wildlife Center to provide consultation for wildlife emergencies,
- Authorized an agreement with the Bessemer Cut-Off Advocacy Center to provide services for children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse,
- Authorized an agreement with Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama,
- Authorized an agreement with One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center to provide services for domestic and sexual violence victims,
- Authorized an agreement with the Prescott House to provide services for children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse, children who are severely neglected and children who have witnessed a violent crime,
- Authorized an agreement with the Humane Society of Shelby County,
- Amended the budget for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30,
- Made an agreement with h Motorola Solutions for the annual maintenance of the public radio system support,
- Executed a grant agreement with the Alabama Innovation Corporation
- Authorized tax abatements with BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, and
- Annexed two properties on Southwood Trace.
Hoover City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 100 Municipal Lane. Livestream recordings can be found on the city’s YouTube channel.
