How one organization wants to work with developers to protect the environment in Homewood

HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WIAT) – Some people in Homewood have concerns over a proposed “livable town square” off Lakeshore Drive. Samford University is working to develop the land across from its campus.

Wednesday, the developers held the third community conversation in a series of four to take input on what people want to see.

“You think about the community members there at the high school, families that come to the high school, the students across campus, they have a long way to go to get to various things of interest, whether it be restaurants or retail, food, they have to travel a distance,” said Stuart Zadra, the executive vice president for Landmark Development.

Right across the road from one of the development areas is what one organization calls the salamander pond. The Friends of Shades Creek say although the forest and salamander pond are on protected land, the wetlands right across the street are a part of Samford’s property to be developed.

“It’s not just trees and ferns and wildflowers, it’s the animals that live in here, so we have turtles and reptiles and lots of amphibians living here, lots and lots of birds,” said Henry Hughes, executive director of Friends of Shades Creek. “We really want to maintain the integrity of this forest and any development that takes place in and around the forest is always a potential problem.”

Landmark Development is partnering with Samford University on the Creekside project. Landmark says issues like those with the salamanders are exactly why these community conversations are important.

“We’ll continue to gather more and more information to find out how we could address certain elements of concerns by citizens,” Zadra said.

Friends of Shades Creek says it’s not opposed to the development but wants to work together with Samford to protect the environment.

“Homewood is a landlocked city, we don’t have anywhere to expand. So, for a city like Homewood to protect 65 acres on the inside of its boundaries, it’s pretty amazing,” Hughes said. “The whole community benefits by having this here, and we want to protect it. The value of this property in 50 years will be even greater than it is today. So, we want to every step of the way make sure it’s protected.”

The last community conversation is scheduled for March 27, with a time and location yet to be announced. After the series wraps up, the developers will compile the information and make a presentation to the city’s planning commission on April 1. You can learn more about the Creekside project HERE.