Hoover zoning commission says no to recommending wholesale store

HOOVER, Ala. —

The Hoover Planning Commission met on Monday to hear from concerned citizens about a proposed development. The city is considering plans to bring a third wholesale warehouse to town. Some people are worried there’s no room for additional traffic.

Most people at the zoning commission meeting are adamant they don’t want to see a wholesale store in their neighborhood. The commission listened to those concerns and voted not to recommend this plan to the city council.

“They saw that this development harms homes—2,000 to be exact in the immediate vicinity,” man said. “It over-congests roads, and it has a terrible environmental probability of catastrophe.”

Many feel the proposed project on Valleydale Road between Inverness Center Drive and Highway 280 is too close to homes.

“The development would almost block the entrance to my neighborhood,” Karla said.

But increased traffic on an already busy street is not the only concern for people. With the lack of distance between homes and the proposed development, many are concerned about plans to include a gas station and said this could be a safety and environmental issue.

“It’s a development that’s appropriate for interstate access,” man said, “and should never have been approved or planned for this location.”

Many see the planning commission’s decision not to recommend the plan to the city council as a victory.

“It made me think that we were heard seriously on all the issues that were brought,” Karla said, “and I know that there’s more steps that need to be taken at this point, but I leave very encouraged.”

The future of the wholesale store will be decided by the city council. Neighbors said that’s another hurdle they’ll have to cross, but they’re ready for the challenge.

“If it goes before the council, we will have even more people at the next meeting,” man said.

The next meeting is already scheduled. The city council will hear a first read of the proposal on May 1.