Planning Board Approves Plans for Holy Name Expansion

The Birmingham Planning Board gave its stamp of approval to a plan that would allow the and to get a facelift and purchase a couple of adjacent properties.

At their Wednesday night meeting, members of the planning board voted unanimously to approve the Catholic church and school's special land use permit as well as a preliminary site plan review. The plans are for the church to acquire a new parcel of land, demolish two existing buildings and construct two new ones in their place, as well as renovate and reconfigure the parking lot.

The approvals were made contingent on the church getting the permission of the city board of zoning appeals to put up a new wall and vacate an alley. Overall, approval for the project will be left to the Birmingham City Commission, which will decide on the matter in the coming months.

Director Jana Ecker explained that the church has been zoned as residential since 1990 and purchased an adjacent plot of land for use as a priest residence in 2009.

"They want to buy a property on Greenwood to tear down and also to tear down their rectory," she said. "Both will be replaced with similar structures."

The church's plans are to shift the parking lot entry and exit points, re-purpose a garage space, change the walkway between the school and the church proper and install new walls and planting areas.

As for the new buildings, one will be used as an apartment for a retired priest, with a small chapel and one-car garage. The other building is proposed to be used for storage, with a one-car garage and trash enclosure. The plans do not add to the overall square footage of either the church or the school.

Architect Victor Saroki assured the board that months of meetings with residents living in the area had generated the plan the church was asking to be approved.

"We had a good dialogue where we studied the pros and cons of previous plans," he said. "I think this has the best elements of all of them. We had several meetings with residents living within 300 feet of the church. I think they're happy with the proposal."

Several residents living in the area of the church spoke on behalf of the church's plan to renovate.

"The plan goes above and beyond what was needed to accommodate residents," Scott Bonney said. "I want to compliment everyone."

The plan for the church and school will come back before the planning board for a final site plan review June 22.