BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A proposal to bring a Sports Illustrated Resort to Tuscaloosa has been postponed after the City Council decided to consider the development at its latest meeting.
This decision follows significant opposition from local residents expressed at a recent public hearing.
Resort developers declined to comment after the meeting, saying they wanted to make sure the project was one that the entire Tuscaloosa region could support. City leaders remain hopeful that a revised plan will be presented that addresses the concerns raised.
The project, which was to be built along Ricemine Road, faced opposition from local residents, primarily due to design and infrastructure concerns. One resident expressed concerns about the hotel’s design, stating, “Tuscaloosa residents have concerns about the hotel’s design and additional due diligence is needed to address these issues.” Another resident added: “I think the additional proposals here will increase traffic considerably.”
Councilor Norman Crowe acknowledged the concerns and stressed the developer’s willingness to reconsider the project. “They’ve been willing to look at the design and address some of the issues that were presented. They’re willing to go back and reconsider and try to move something forward,” Crowe said. .
The brief public hearing held during the council meeting was in sharp contrast to the previous public hearing that spurred the decision to postpone the project. There were no new comments, but the council ultimately decided to give the developer time to adjust its plans.
“I think they want to be in Tuscaloosa, and their vision includes being here in some way,” Crowe said. “I hope they work with the community and come back with a different plan. I hope you will come.”
The timeline for when the project will begin remains unclear. The land earmarked for the resort remains undeveloped for now, and Crowe has suggested it could be several months before new plans are presented.
“I expect something to come back, probably after the new year. My plan is to have some community meetings to get input and get community buy-in before we get to this stage again. “It’s about looking at the final plan before it’s presented to see if we can do something better,” Crowe said. .
Residents have raised concerns about the design and height of the building, as well as questions about traffic flow and environmental impact, with some even outright opposing the resort’s presence in the area. .
The future of the project is still up in the air, but we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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