Council shuts down 119 gas station request

The Hoover City Council shot down a request for the building of a gas station at the corner of Highway 119 and Doug Baker Boulevard at its meeting on Jan. 20.

The request was submitted by Covenant Bank to rezone the property to allow for the station to be constructed. Its previous zoning did not allow for gas pumps to be located on the site. Jesse Evans spoke on behalf of Covenant Bank and gave a presentation outlining each requirement for the project and stated that it had been through the city's planning and zoning commission.

During public comments, several residents spoke out against the project including Don Erwin from Barber Companies and Dr. Randy Haddock, biologist with the Cahaba River Society. 

Erwin cited the possibility of other uses for the property such as commercial real estate and said that the majority of residents did not approve of a gas station in close proximity to residential property.

Haddock spoke on the damage that the construction of the station could cause to the Cahaba River, which would cause flooding and property damage to homes and other businesses in the area.

The council voted 4-0 against the Covenant's request. For more information, visit hooveral.org.