October 2023 | Volume 11 | Issue 12
Sun HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE HOOVERSUN.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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PRESERVING THE PRESERVE?
Trees line a section of the disc golf course at Inverness Nature Park and Trails in May 2019. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Residents ask for more trails, Community split over development plans for The Preserve greenways By JON ANDERSON
U
SS Real Estate has wanted to develop a commercial center in The Preserve community for about 25 years, but the effort has had many starts and stops over the last three decades and has frequently been the center of much controversy. It’s no different this time, as plans surfaced in August to change the development plan for the mixed-use part of The Preserve to allow 295 residential rental units, 38 townhomes, a 40-room boutique hotel, 49,200 square feet of retail space and 943
parking spaces. A large portion of The Preserve Town Center already is zoned for commercial use, with 69,000 square feet of office and retail space approved, but Capstone Communities sought to rezone part of the property, redesign the development and add residential rental uses that had not been previously approved. A public hearing initially was set with the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission for Sept. 11, but developers asked for a continuance until Oct. 9. Capstone Communities wanted time to evaluate comments it had received at
three town hall meetings that were held at The Preserve Town Hall in the two weeks leading up to the public hearing, according to an email sent out by the Preserve Owners Association. Their proposal, while welcomed by some, caused quite a stir with other residents in and around The Preserve. Prior to the original public hearing date, the city received at least 75 emails regarding the plan, and the majority of emails were against the proposed changes, a city staff member said.
See PRESERVE | page A18
Jared Calhoun, with Nequette Architecture and Design, speaks with Stephen Porterfield, center, and his wife, Donna, about the development plans for the Preserve Town Center townhomes during an open meeting at the Preserve Town Hall on Sept. 5. Photo by Erin Nelson.
INSIDE
Sponsors............... A4 City......................... A6
Business................ A8 Community..........A10
Schoolhouse........A14 Home & Garden.....B1
By JON ANDERSON Expanding trails and greenways should be the top priority for Hoover parks and recreation officials, according to public feedback given for a parks and public spaces plan the city is creating. That was consistently ranked as the biggest need for city parks and recreation offerings, said Mindy Wyatt, a strategic analyst with the city’s Office of Economic and Community Development who is serving as project manager for the plan. Improving the maintenance and condition of existing parks, updating amenities at existing parks and creating new opportunities for recreation also were seen as important, Wyatt said.
Sports.................... B5 Events................... B10
See TRAILS | page A16 Real Estate.......... B12 Metro Roundup... B14 facebook.com/hooversunnews
FIDOS in training
Home & Garden
Bluff Park-based group trains facility dogs.
Browse through our annual section for advice and resources on seasonal home improvement projects.
See page A10
See page B1
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