Active Shooter Training
You may see a large and very visible police presence around the campus and inside OLS over the next week or so. This is training.
The Homewood Police Department will be conducting active shooter response training on the campus of Our Lady of Sorrows School July 16 and 17 and July 20 through 24, from 9am to 3pm each day. This is part of HPD's annual training and will also include medical trauma treatment and first aid.
We wanted to make sure you knew what was happening if you see the activity in the area.
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The Planning Commission reviewed a proposed zoning definition for minor vehicle repair after concerns about vehicle-focused businesses along the Green Springs corridor. Discussion focused on whether the proposed definition was too broad and could affect specialized businesses or existing businesses that may become nonconforming. The commission recommended using a shorter definition focused on routine, low-impact vehicle services and removing the long list of examples. The amended recommendation passed 5 to 1 and now moves to the City Council. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4vQEikP
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and may use the names of real City officials, employees or information from public meetings to make an email, text message or phone call appear legitimate. A familiar name or email does not mean the message is real. The City of Homewood will NEVER ask you to purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency or make a personal payment to a City official or employee through an unsolicited email or text message. Cash and check are the only forms of payment currently accepted for Variance, Rezoning, Resurvey, and Development Plan applications. If you receive ANY request involving money, STOP and VERIFY it before responding. Call the City using THIS CONTACT INFO . DO NOT call a phone number included in the suspicious message. You could be calling the scammer back instead of a City official. And if you are still unsure, come see us! Visit City Hall, 4th Floor, and talk directly with our staff. We can help verify any request involving money. You can also verify using these emails: fred.goodwin@homewoodal.org emily.harrismiller@homewoodal.org If you are directed by City staff to send in your payemnt, use this information: Attn: Department of Engineering and Zoning City of Homewood 2850 19th Street South, Fourth Floor Homewood, AL 35209
The U.S. Highway 31 pedestrian tunnel is temporarily closed while it undergoes a major renovation. While crews are at work over the next few months, we thought it would be a good time to look back at the history of Homewood's longest-serving pedestrian connection. For more than 70 years, the tunnel has provided generations of Homewood families with a safe passage beneath a busy roadway. The tunnel was constructed in 1954 after widening of U.S. Highway 31, then known as Montgomery Highway. At the time, many students who attended Shades Cahaba Elementary lived on the west side of 31. Rather than requiring hundreds of children to cross a rapidly expanding highway at street level, community leaders pushed for a pedestrian underpass. To help make room for the tunnel's west entrance, Hill Food Store, the predecessor to today's Piggly Wiggly, provided a portion of its parking lot.
Pre-Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
The Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a variance for a family to build a therapeutic pool on Gran Ave. The variance allows a 105-square-foot increase in impervious surfacing. The applicant demonstrated the project would remain within the city's maximum allowable impervious surface coverage, at approximately 44.6%, while providing enough space for aquatic therapy for their son with cerebral palsy. The board denied a requested variance for a proposed condominium development on Courtney Drive after nearby residents raised concerns about traffic, alley access, and neighborhood impacts, while approving two separate requests for second story home additions on Ardsley Place and Peerless Avenue. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3SCceD3
Beginning Monday, July 6, the U.S. 31 pedestrian tunnel near Piggly Wiggly will be closed on both ends as construction begins on a major renovation project. Construction is expected to take a few months to work on new landscaping, lighting, and other upgrades designed to create a safer and more welcoming connection for everyone walking through the area.
Microtransit is now available for Homewood residents, adding an on-demand option to move around our city from the Birmingham Transit Authority (BJCTA). It works just like ride sharing whereby riders will be able to request a trip through an app and get picked up nearby, with routes designed in real time to keep trips efficient and wait times low. The service provides point-to-point transportation anywhere within the city limits for just $1.50 per trip. For more details, GO HERE. How this pilot program is being funded? The initial phase, running from July 2026 through September 2027, is fully funded through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham , at about $792,000. This allows the city to launch the service without immediate long-term cost commitments. After that, projected annual costs are expected to be around $610,000 to $630,000, depending on how the service is adjusted according to our needs. This pilot approach gives Homewood time to see how people actually use the system, where demand is strongest, and how the service can be refined. It also keeps flexibility built in, with the ability to adjust hours, coverage, and fleet size based on real data. You can VIEW THE PRESENTATION presented to the Council on April 13, 2026.
It's not just the temperatures rising this summer, online buying and selling is hot too. Which means more people are meeting strangers to complete transactions. If that's you, consider meeting at a safe location. As a reminder, the Homewood Police Department offers an official 'Community Meetup Spot' in the parking lot in their parking lot. The designated exchange area is located just to the left as you enter the parking lot and is marked by two parking spaces with green lines. It is a well lit area with security cameras, and of course, police officers all around you. This is an easy way to protect yourself and the other person.
Pre-Council Meeting - June 22, 2026
The City of Homewood is committed to responsible planning and ensuring that future growth aligns with the long-term interests of the community. In connection with the proposed temporary moratorium on data center development, the City wishes to provide the following information to residents, businesses, and stakeholders. No permanent zoning regulations are being adopted through this ordinance. Currently, the City of Homewood has no pending applications for the development of a data center. The proposed ordinance is a temporary measure intended to provide the City with adequate time to evaluate and prepare for the potential impacts of this emerging land use and to ensure that future development is consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare of the community. The City is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of its Comprehensive Plan and recognizes the importance of establishing thoughtful policies and regulations that address evolving development trends. During the moratorium period, the City intends to study and develop standards and regulations specifically applicable to data center facilities. The purpose of this review is to determine whether zoning, operational, buffering, infrastructure, or other development standards should be adopted before such facilities are considered within the City. The City's review will focus on several key considerations, including: • Infrastructure planning and long-term capacity; • Utility demands and potential impacts on public services; • Compatibility with existing and future land uses; • Preservation of the character and quality of life within the community; and The temporary moratorium will provide the opportunity for careful evaluation and informed decision-making. During this period, City staff and the Planning Commission will study potential regulations applicable to data center facilities and will present any proposed zoning or development standards through the City's normal public review process. Residents, property owners, businesses, and other stakeholders will have opportunities to review proposed regulations, provide comments, and participate in public meetings before any permanent zoning regulations are considered for adoption by the City Council. The City intends to work collaboratively with the Planning Commission and to encourage public engagement throughout this process to ensure that any future regulations reflect the needs and priorities of the Homewood community. This temporary action is a proactive planning measure and should not be interpreted as opposition to economic development or technological investment. Rather, it reflects the City's commitment to responsible growth, sound infrastructure planning, and the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of its residents.