October 24, 2008
Hotel on hold
Planning Commission delays proposal
By Hilary Funk
Residents of an upscale neighborhood in east Montgomery are up in arms about a proposed development that would put a four-story hotel in their backyard.
Halcyon Forest homeowners showed up in force at the Montgomery Planning Commission meeting Thursday night to protest plans to commercialize portions of the now-heavily-wooded 13.9-acre plot in the southwest corner of Taylor Road and Interstate 85.
John Stanley, commercial real estate agent for Atlanta-based developer Global Properties, presented the commission with a proposal to build a 78,600-square-foot, four-story, 127-room Hyatt Place hotel; nearly 40,000 square feet of one-story retail and office space; and three outparcels for restaurants or financial institutions on the property.
After a two-hour public hearing, the commission agreed to put the matter off until Nov. 13.
The Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions (formerly the Alabama Baptist State Convention) owns the plot, which is under contract to Global. Any development plans have to be passed through the Halcyon Architectural Review Board, "which said approval shall not be unreasonably withheld," according to the plot's warranty deed.
"We're not some radicals who want to stymie progress," said 19-year Halcyon Forest resident Billy Carter. "One of the reasons we moved here was that it was quiet, tranquil and peaceful. ... We are concerned about the health, safety and general welfare of our neighborhood."
Since June, Halcyon Forest homeowners have been fighting the plan. The 68-home neighborhood surrounds the proposed development on two sides. But the process began in February, Stanley said, with homeowners and developers meeting at least three times to try and reach a compromise. Concessions have been made on both sides but not to the satisfaction of many.
"I object to any development, period," said Carter, whose property abuts closest to the proposed hotel. "I don't want a hotel in my backyard. I feel like it is going to compromise and limit the use of my backyard, and I have a fundamental problem with that."
Homeowners said another primary concern is how any development there would exacerbate an already-bad traffic situation on Taylor Road near the interstate.
Halcyon Forest's entry point sits between Eastchase Boulevard and Berryhill Road lights and homeowners have a hard time leaving or getting back to their neighborhood. The new development would attach at the Eastchase Boulevard light.
Developers commissioned traffic studies to come up with solutions, including adding a traffic light at Halcyon Forest.
During negotiations with homeowners, the studies were presented but representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation explained that a traffic light at the neighborhood was not within the rules. The intersection is too close to other lights and doesn't serve enough people to justify its placement.
"Every meeting was predicated on the idea that any plan would take care of traffic," said attorney Inge Hill, who represents the homeowners. "But the state rejected both proposals."
Still, the current development proposal includes roadwork paid for by Global, including turn lanes into and out of Halcyon Forest.
"We have done everything we could do," Stanley said. "The development started with six stories, they agreed to drop it to four stories and move the hotel as far away from the houses as possible."
Before the next meeting, Montgomery Planning Commissioner Ken Upchurch said he hopes developers and homeowners could reach a compromise on key points, but with the city's help.
"I just don't believe all the chips have been put on the table already," Upchurch said. "I think the developers have said 'we'll pay for the light, we'll build the road' and that the neighborhood has said they would compromise. I can't believe that with that, we can't push the rules. ... I want our staff to put the full weight of the city of Montgomery behind looking at this issue."
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