To:  Mr. Craft O’Neal, O’Neal Steel, Inc., Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Hoover, Hoover City Council, Hoover Board of Education, and Shelby County Commissioners

 

The residents of Inverness and the surrounding neighborhoods petition as follows:

 

1.                   We ask that Mr. Craft O’Neal and O’Neal Steel, Inc. NOT sell the property located at 2905 Hoehn Drive, which is in the City of Hoover, North Shelby County, as currently planned, whether for residential or for any other type of development.  We request the time and the opportunity to develop a plan to compensate O’Neal Steel Inc. for the property and to ensure that the Property is perpetually maintained in its current natural state as a Bird Watching paradise (USGS Map) and Wildlife Habitat.  (mybirdmaps.com)  (Moon Glow Lake in Shelby County Alabama).

 

2.                   We ask that the Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Hoover and, subsequently, the Hoover City Council DENY the current rezoning application by Signature Homes, O’Neal Steel, Inc., AFK Properties, LLC, or any other unknown parties (Z-1212-13), or any other similar request, for the property located at 2905 Hoehn Drive in the City of Hoover from A-1 (currently: Agricultural District limiting homes to 3 acres per home) to a (Planned Residential Development).

 

3.           We ask that the Hoover Board of Education REJECT the offer to purchase approximately 12.3 acres to place a future elementary school at the entrance of Jaguar Drive and Caldwell Mill road, and we request that the Hoover Board of Education pursue other sites available on the Spain Park Campus that allow for a quality environment and a high level of safety for students, faculty, parents and the commuting public.

 

4.           We ask the Shelby County Commissioners to REQUEST that the Hoover City Council not approve any rezoning of the property until an independent engineering and traffic study can be performed by Shelby County that will provide alternative solutions to reduce the accident risk and imminent traffic congestion which will be caused by placing the entrance of a large high density subdivision near Jaguar Drive on Caldwell Mill Road.  We request proposed solutions be presented to the public for comments prior to the development and implementation of any plan and before any rezoning of this property is approved by the Hoover City Council.  We request required changes to Caldwell Mill Road be made prior to the start of any construction activities to reduce the risk to the school buses, children, parents and commuting public in general.

 

 Although certainly not an exhaustive list, we submit the following as the basis for our requests:

 

a.       The current application would allow up to a maximum of 10 homes per acre, with a currently submitted plan showing 151 homes planned on 26 acres plus an Elementary School on 12.3 acres, to be located at the entrance to Jaguar Drive and Caldwell Mill Road, if the Hoover Board of Education purchases the property as part of the greater plan for the development.

 

b.      Of this total tract of 81 acres, 61 acres is zoned in Hoover and 13 acres is in Shelby County.

 

c.       This subject property is in the Cahaba River watershed which is one of the few natural environments left in this densely-populated North Shelby County and Hoover areas.

 

d.      A drainage basin lies within the property requiring a 6 foot or greater diameter pipe to carry away water.

 

e.      The property abuts Caldwell Mill Road and Jaguar Drive with high density traffic carrying commercial and passenger traffic.

 

f.        The 12.3 acres of property proposed to be purchased for a school is set to have 26 homes adjacent to the back of the school with only a 35 foot required buffer between the school and homes, the traffic congestion will multiply due to the age of children being driven to school, and this plan is a dangerous plan placing students, parents and facilities at unnecessary high risk. 

 

g.       This gently rolling property is home to many forms of wildlife both indigenous to Central Alabama and which have migrated here including red fox, white-tail deer, raccoon, opossum, coyote, skunk, beaver, bobcat, owls, wild turkey, red tail hawks – just to name a few.  Additionally, the variety of flora includes huge white oak trees, loblolly pines, wild iris, wild azalea, wood ferns and much more.

 

h.      The property includes two lakes, totaling 12 acres, one of which will be filled to accommodate homes and roads as noted in the plan submitted by Signature Homes seeking to act as an agent for Craft O’Neal and O’Neal Steal, Inc.  These naturally stream-fed lakes currently serve as a feeding and watering ground for the plethora of wildlife that makes this property their home and provides a natural water shed.

 

i.        The burden of what a development of 160-180 homes will place on our roads, utilities, and sewer system is alarming.

 

j.        Filling in the lake as proposed along with added development, will alter the natural flow of storm and groundwater drainage for the area which will cause significant drainage issues for current and future property owners. The lakes act as natural collection areas for such water.

 

k.       Given the current number of rooftops and developed areas, adding additional burdens on the lake will cause capacity issues and negatively affect the wildlife living in the lakes with pollutants.

 

l.        The existing foliage and forested areas around the lakes not only act as buffers for adjacent neighborhoods, but it also allows for natural protection to keep the lake healthy an unpolluted.

 

m.    Placing a new Elementary School at the entrance to Spain Park at the intersection of Jaguar Drive and Caldwell Mill Road will have a major impact on traffic at that intersection and on Caldwell Mill Road, Valleydale Road, and other adjoining roadways. 

 

n.      The entrance to this proposed subdivision will be just north of Jaguar Drive on Caldwell Mill Road (approximately 450 feet) 

 

o.      The turn lane for the schools will be within feet of the entrance and exit to the new development threatening public safety for anyone traveling this road.  The current two-lane road, with an occasional turn lane, has no changes planned to improve public safety.  The existing infrastructure will be forced to take on the load of 300+ additional cars per day, making multiple round trips in and out of the new development, posing a major increased threat to public safety. 

 

p.      This area is one of the most densely populated areas in the state of Alabama and the subject property is one of the last remaining natural ecosystems in this area.

 

q.      The responsibility of the Zoning Commission and the City of Hoover is to ensure that  each requested zoning change is actually an improvement and/or does no harm to the neighborhood as a whole.  This PRD application clearly is a degradation of the subject property and to the entire area.

 

We want this area to continue to be a place we enjoy living, relaxing, and raising our children by preserving and caring for our natural environment and by developing wisely.

 

Having already sold off many acres in the area for development, Craft O’Neal, O’Neal Steel, Inc. and the City of Hoover have the opportunity to not threaten public safety, increase risk to the community, and destroy the eco-system.  Aerial photos, ground level photos and more information can be viewed at www.savemoonglow.com .  email-info@savemoonglow.com, or Mail to: Save Moon Glow, 130 Inverness Plaza, #250, Birmingham, AL 35242.  Please, place our names on a open meetings distribution list relating to any and all hearings and discussions relating to any development for this subject property.

 

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