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A zoning change for a development where thousands of homes are planned near the Interstate 65-565 interchange and plans for the renovation of historic Goldsmith-Schiffman Field will come before the Huntsville Planning Commission on Tuesday. The meeting is at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The zoning change is for an almost 400-acre site south of Alabama 20 and east of I-65 just across the interstate from the Decatur city limits. The site is currently called Westmoore Landing. The property is currently zoned Residence 2B and Highway C4-Business districts. The zoning change to a Planned Development could pave the way for a Village of Providence-type development. Huntsville Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez said at previous City Council and Planning Commission meetings that developers planned to build between 2,200 and 3,000 homes on the more than 395-acre site. Retail development is also planned. Nunez said developers are planning a mixture of housing types, including single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and multifamily units. He said many of the single-family homes would be cottage-style and manor-style. Some residents and environmental advocates have raised concerns that there may be Native American artifacts on the site, saying that the property was home to Chickasaw Indian plum trees and was a former village and orchard site. Nunez said there were state regulations in place and guidance from the city’s own sustainability committee that would protect sites of historical significance on the property, as well as species native to the area. He said site assessments would be done on the property. All zoning changes must also be approved by the City Council. Goldsmith-Schiffman Park The Planning Commission will vote on the character, location and extent of Goldsmith-Schiffman Park, which is the renovation of former Goldsmith-Schiffman Field where city high school football teams once played. The city sought public input earlier this year about how the deteriorating field at 320 Beirne Ave., near Five Points, could be reimagined. City Administrator John Hamilton said at a town hall meeting the city expects to spend between $8 million and $10 million from its 1990 capital improvement plan on refurbishing the stadium. He said parts of the stadium’s iconic stone wall are crumbling and unsafe. He said parts of the stadium are no longer compliant with federal regulations since it is in a flood plain. Hamilton said that plans for the field call for two new flag football fields, which is currently the primary use at the stadium. The fields will be 30 yards by 70 yards. A playground with a rubberized surface, a pavilion with restroom facilities and two pickleball courts are among other amenities. Hamilton said public input could affect the plans. Parts of the stone wall that surround the stadium will be removed as part of the refurbishment. The city plans to preserve the stone wall on the western side as well as on all four corners of the stadium. The wall will be replaced by a chain link fence that will promote safety at the park. The city is aiming for construction next year and expected buildout to take 15 months. Foresite Group, LLC, is designing the renovation. Other agenda items The Commission is expected to vote on the location, character and extent of Montview Elementary and Magnet School west of North Memorial Parkway and east of Callahan Drive NW. Bridgewood Engineering and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture are involved with the project, which is part of Huntsville City Schools’ 10-year, $600 million capital plan. The Commission is also expected to vote on final approval of phase 4B of the Nature’s Walk on the Flint subdivision east of Old Big Cove Road and south of River Park Boulevard. Millrose Properties Alabama, LLC, is the developer. Mullins, LLC, is the engineer. Final approval of 43 lots in the Lendon II subdivision in Jones Valley will also be voted on. The development is north of Four Mile Post and east of Garth Road. Lendon, LLC, is the developer. Schoel Engineering is also involved in the project.
