You get to help shape our city's future! What if you, the public, had a chance to help shape the vision, goals, and priorities for your neighborhoods, wards, and the city as a whole, years ahead of time? Well, that’s exactly what this plan is for. The City of Homewood is starting work on a new city-wide Comprehensive Plan. This plan will serve as a roadmap for how Homewood grows, invests, and serves its residents over the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together. Once underway, there will be many opportunities to get involved, through surveys, meetings, workshops, and other public input events, beginning in early 2026. Current Project Timeline & Funding The first step is selecting a consulting firm to help guide the process. That work is now underway. Notice of Award to Consultant Team: Late July / Early August 2025 Negotiate Scope & Fee: August – September 2025 Notice to Proceed: November 1, 2025 Public Engagement Begins: February 2026 Funding for this project will be split 80/20, with 80% provided by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPC) , and 20% provided by the City of Homewood. RPC’s role is limited to providing this funding support. They are not involved in developing the plan in any way. Consultant Process Interviews with consultant teams begin soon, and the planning process will officially launch this fall. Although the grant is technically ALDOT-administered funding, Homewood retains full control over the selection and direction of the plan. A review committee, made up of City staff and RPC staff, scored all submitted consultant proposals, based on a standardized rubric. From that process, a short list of firms was invited to oral interviews. A panel of four to five City and RPC staff members (no elected officials) will conduct interviews and recommend a firm to the full City Council, which will make the final decision. Once selected, the RPC will contract with the chosen firm and handle grant administration, but the City will lead the planning process itself. This approach ensures that while outside funding helps cover the cost, the direction and priorities of the plan remain fully in the hands of Homewood’s staff, leadership, and residents. This will be your chance to say what matters and help set the direction for where we’re headed. It’s your city, let’s plan it together.