Public Works committee forwards plan to add 14 on-street parking spaces for Covenant Presbyterian Church

Homewood’s Public Works committee voted April 15 to send a request from Covenant Presbyterian Church to the full city council asking permission to add 14 on-street parking spaces along South Lakeshore at 65 Old Montgomery Highway.

Kell Smith introduced Daniel Taylor, who said the congregation has grown and that church members already park along the right-of-way. "The mud is kind of indicative of a problem; the congregation is growing," Daniel Taylor said, adding that the church believes it can "get 14 spots in there" pending a full civil design.

Committee members asked whether Alabama Power poles or easements would prevent parking in the proposed locations. Taylor said the church would notify Alabama Power and seek any required approvals. He also confirmed that stormwater work would be needed to make the spaces usable.

Members raised safety concerns about vehicles backing out onto South Lakeshore, which is used by pedestrians and runners and approaches a stop sign. Taylor said the church’s peak parking demand is tied to Sunday services and a small day school (drop-off about 9:00 a.m., pickup about 1:00 p.m.) and that those times reduce overlap with weekday traffic. The presenters told the committee that angled or parallel alternatives had been considered but that 90° head-in spaces maximize capacity and avoid funneling vehicles into the church’s private lot.

The church has not yet produced civil or engineered drawings; presenters said they sought committee permission to proceed before paying for engineering. A committee member asked whether the 14 spaces could instead be added inside the church lot; presenters said the adjacent parcel beyond the proposed spots is not church property and therefore was not available for expansion.

A committee member moved to approve the request with a requirement for a proper indemnification agreement; the motion was seconded and members responded "all in favor." The chair said the item will go to the city council on the coming Monday. The motion language and vote were recorded in the meeting transcript but the exact roll-call tally was not specified in the record.

Next steps identified by the committee and presenters include completing civil engineering and stormwater plans, confirming utility easements with Alabama Power, and including an indemnification agreement before the council considers the item.