Museum's expansion plan gets OK

Planning board talks limits on building heights

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

By JOHN PECK

Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com

Plans for a major expansion of the Huntsville Museum of Art were approved but not before drawing a sharp rebuke Tuesday from an officer of the city's Planning Commission.

Also at Tuesday night's meeting, a proposed 10-story, 150-foot height limit on downtown buildings drew some lively discussion.

The items were part of a packed Planning Commission agenda that also saw a controversial building project near the D-1 sports training facility off Bailey Cove Road rejected until drainage problems are resolved and a proposed front drive for the Providence School denied.

Planning Vice Chairman Earl Gooding Jr. led the discussion on the museum expansion. Gooding, citing past museum assurances the building would stay within the footprint of the building it replaced years ago, said museum officials are breaking that pledge with a planned 24,000-square-foot addition over the service bays and a covered stage jutting into Big Spring International Park.

He warned museum officials will be back one day with yet another request to expand the building.

"What is happening here is a slow infringement on the Huntsville downtown park," Gooding said. "I believe at some time we'll get to the point where we have to draw the line where we won't accept any more infringement on the green space around that lake."

Sam Denham of Chickasaw Drive, the lone resident to speak against the plan, said the building should never have been allowed in the first place.

Commission Chairman Crawford Howard said he agreed with Gooding but the public must not.

"If the public was that opposed, we would have had more than one person oppose it," he said.

Planning member Ed Starnes, an artist, said plans for a new entrance opposite the Church Street entrance will integrate the museum into Big Spring International Park.

Longwood rezoning

Meanwhile, planners approved a rezoning along Longwood Drive in the medical district where tall medical office buildings and parking garages threaten the residential character of the neighborhood.

The rezoning request for Longwood Drive allows doctors', dentists' and other professional offices to operate from the homes as long as the new use doesn't change the residential character of the neighborhood.

City planners are studying changes to the city's landscaping buffer ordinance to protect residents along nearby Rhett Avenue. Any landscaping buffer changes would apply to all zoning categories.

The downtown building height limit, which had tougher restrictions near historic districts and immediately adjacent neighborhoods, was sent back to a subcommittee for further review after some developers expressed concern it might impede growth.

Randy Schrimsher and Scott McLain said while they agree with a need for buffer zones to protect historic districts, planners need to move cautiously on setting height limits. Councilman Mark Russell urged planners to consider the downtown neighborhoods from encroachment of tall buildings.

Schrimsher said there are probably only a handful of sites in core downtown that could accommodate a really tall building.

Bailey Cove Road

On Bailey Cove Road, neighbors of D-1 complained of runoff from rain that hadn't occurred until the facility was built there. The planners rejected a request creating two lots for development - including a Sonic restaurant - until the drainage issue is resolved.



Museum's expansion plan gets OK Planning board talks limits on building heights Wednesday, January 23, 2008 By JOHN PECK Times Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com Plans for a major expansion of the Huntsville Museum of Art were approved but not before drawing a sharp rebuke Tuesday from an officer of the city's Planning Commission. Also at Tuesday night's meeting, a proposed 10-story, 150-foot height limit on downtown buildings drew some lively discussion. The items were part of a packed Planning Commission agenda that also saw a controversial building project near the D-1 sports training facility off Bailey Cove Road rejected until drainage problems are resolved and a proposed front drive for the Providence School denied. Planning Vice Chairman Earl Gooding Jr. led the discussion on the museum expansion. Gooding, citing past museum assurances the building would stay within the footprint of the building it replaced years ago, said museum officials are breaking that pledge with a planned 24,000-square-foot addition over the service bays and a covered stage jutting into Big Spring International Park. He warned museum officials will be back one day with yet another request to expand the building. "What is happening here is a slow infringement on the Huntsville downtown park," Gooding said. "I believe at some time we'll get to the point where we have to draw the line where we won't accept any more infringement on the green space around that lake." Sam Denham of Chickasaw Drive, the lone resident to speak against the plan, said the building should never have been allowed in the first place. Commission Chairman Crawford Howard said he agreed with Gooding but the public must not. "If the public was that opposed, we would have had more than one person oppose it," he said. Planning member Ed Starnes, an artist, said plans for a new entrance opposite the Church Street entrance will integrate the museum into Big Spring International Park. Longwood rezoning Meanwhile, planners approved a rezoning along Longwood Drive in the medical district where tall medical office buildings and parking garages threaten the residential character of the neighborhood. The rezoning request for Longwood Drive allows doctors', dentists' and other professional offices to operate from the homes as long as the new use doesn't change the residential character of the neighborhood. City planners are studying changes to the city's landscaping buffer ordinance to protect residents along nearby Rhett Avenue. Any landscaping buffer changes would apply to all zoning categories. The downtown building height limit, which had tougher restrictions near historic districts and immediately adjacent neighborhoods, was sent back to a subcommittee for further review after some developers expressed concern it might impede growth. Randy Schrimsher and Scott McLain said while they agree with a need for buffer zones to protect historic districts, planners need to move cautiously on setting height limits. Councilman Mark Russell urged planners to consider the downtown neighborhoods from encroachment of tall buildings. Schrimsher said there are probably only a handful of sites in core downtown that could accommodate a really tall building. Bailey Cove Road On Bailey Cove Road, neighbors of D-1 complained of runoff from rain that hadn't occurred until the facility was built there. The planners rejected a request creating two lots for development - including a Sonic restaurant - until the drainage issue is resolved. © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.