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There is a lot of talk
in the community and all of
Hoover
on the recent purchase of the 79-acre natural land in the Chapel
Road/Simmons Middle School/Gwen Elementary School area of Bluff
Park.
To put it all together, here is an outline of the issues, recent
Newspaper articles and quotes from an exclusive interview with
Councilman Gene Smith with Bluffparkal.org.
First of all:
History of the Purchase and the
Apartments Issue
Who had the land and
what was it for?
The property starts at
Chapel Road
adjoining Gwin
Elementary School, Simmons
Middle School and The Moss
Rock Preserve. It was zoned in Jefferson
County
and for apartments. A private developer had ownership of the land.
There was some destruction to the land and trees a few years back by
this developer. The land was also considered for annexation then but
that did not happen.
Why and when did the
city of Hoover buy the land?
The Hoover City Council purchased the 79-acre areas on
Chapel Road last November. The land was zoned for over 600
apartments that the city did not want. The Birmingham News quotes
Councilman Jack Wright as saying, "It's a strategic piece of land for
the city, it would have been a "traffic nightmare" to build apartments
on the site.
Councilman Gene Smith
tells Bluffparkal.org in an email interview in February 2008, “When
the property was purchased it was stated then that it would be for city
or educational use. I believe that
Hoover currently
offers a more than appropriate number of apartment and multi-family
housing opportunities. The property has not yet been rezoned to Hoover
Zoning classifications. That would originate through the City Planner
and the Planning & Zoning Commission prior to coming to the Council.
However, the County Zoning does move with the annexation until such time
that the City does rezone it.” I know that I would not support the sale
of property for apartments. I feel comfortable to say that I do not
believe that anyone else of the council would either.
The School/ 3rd High School/Expansion
Issue With the Land
There
is talk of using part of the land for possible needs for Hoover Schools.
“We have informed the
school system that we would be open to their needs for at least part of
the property if they felt it necessary. We do not plan to install any
form of organized sporting fields there at this time. The topography is
not very conducive to fields large enough. Nor would we care to create
lighting in that area.”
Councilman Gene Smith
in a Bluffparkal.org interview February 2008.
The school issues are a wide topic on
several Internet forums for the Hoover area. This includes community
talk about the land in question.
Question to Councilman
Gene Smith - As I am sure you know, many parents are concerned about the
over population of the schools, and they are concerned about this land
being used for more apartments or even a new school or a 3rd High
School. What can you tell citizens of Bluff
Park
to calm any fears about apartments, disruptions to the community and the
moving of kids in Bluff
Park and elsewhere?
“I know that it was
mentioned at the Simmons meeting that expanding that campus (Simmons) or
a new High School is/has been on the table for discussion. However, it
is my understanding that in order to excavate that property for a high
school would cost in excess of $15 million. Making that prospect less
attractive. As far as changing school zones, I have watched that be a
topic of exceptional emotion for quite a number of years. It is an
option that no one finds appealing. I hope that the Superintendent can
find adjustments that people feel they can live with, if not at least
take some ownership in. From the many meeting held by Mr. Craig
(superintendent Hoover Schools), I personally find it unlikely that a
complete high school campus could be used on that site. Largely because
of the cost of preparing the property.”
Councilman Gene Smith
in a Bluffparkal.org interview February 2008.
Mr. Craig has noted in community meetings
about the long-range plans for the school system that the use of some of
the land to expand Simmons to a High School was on the table but was
fully aware that there were terrain problems.
*Comments from Councilman Gene Smith are
exclusive to Bluffparkal.org from an email interview.
Nature Park/Preservation Issue With the
Land
The other side of this story comes from
what is natural - the desire to preserve what is natural while repairing
what damage has been done to the property.
In November 2007, Mayor Tony Petelos was
quoted in a Birmingham News article about the land when it was brought
up to the council to purchase it. “Petelos said the city plans to clean
up the property, which includes a creek and waterfall, and might develop
a park with trails or make the land available to the two schools. He
said the city would not sell it for any other type of development.
“We're going to make it a beautiful piece of land," Petelos said. "It's
a great opportunity for the city." Mayor Tony Petelos.
“It is still my
understanding that the Mayor has requested that we leave the property as
natural as possible,” Councilman Gene Smith says. I believe the
property is good for the community because of it's centralized location
within the more densely populated part of our City. It is unfortunate
that we were not able to obtain the property before the destruction
caused by the previous developer. Sitting next to two schools and
adjacent to the Moss Rock Preserve make it a valuable asset to
Hoover. The Mayor has been very forward in the fact that he plans to
conduct public opportunities as to what should exactly happen with the
property, hopefully this Spring. I look forward to the public hearings
the Mayor has indicated he will hold to receive public input about how
the park should go forward.”
Councilman Gene Smith
in a Bluffparkal.org interview February 2008.
Last month (February), another article
ran in the Birmingham News centering on Councilman Jack Wright saying he
wants the city to use some of the land to expand/add to the Moss Rock
Preserve nature park, and he would like the council to consider a
resolution in the upcoming months to spell out what will be preserved
and what will be given to the school system.
Learn more and read more quotes from the
City Council and Superintendent Andy Craig in these Birmingham News
AL.com articles
Hoover may buy land to stop apartments
Hoover City Councilman wants city to expand Moss Roack Preserve, not
build new school on site.
So what is out there in this area?
Bluffparkal.org has obtained stunning photos and commentary from
Resident and Science teacher at the Altamont School Kurt Kristensen.
Click here for more.
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