City Council tables South Forest parking discussion

The City Council started off a long list of agenda items with a public hearing over parking issues on South Forest Drive on Nov. 17. Residents had brought complaints to the city that employees and customers of GianMarco’s were parking along their neighborhood street, blocking other cars and causing high traffic volumes.

Ward 3 Place 2 Representative Walter Jones presented a possible solution to the problem by creating five parking spaces on the “pocket park” directly behind GianMarco’s. The proposed parking space design would not use the entirety of the park’s area, but would require removal of shrubbery on the city-owned lot.

South Forest Drive resident Roland Lewis spoke against this proposal, saying that children on the street play in that park frequently and adding parking spaces would only increase traffic on the road. He also noted that since GianM

arco’s began using employee and valet customer parking at the Jefferson County satellite courthouse, the problem had been reduced.

Ward 4 Place 1 Representative Barry Smith and Ward 2 Place 2 Representative Vance Moody agreed with Lewis about the potential for increased traffic and were unconvinced that five spaces would make a significant impact on the problem. Mayor Scott McBrayer was asked to update the council on the Short Saulter Road project, which includes 16 new parking spaces.

After McBrayer said the project was scheduled for completion by the end of the year, the council voted to table the issue until they could see if the Short Saulter project had an effect.

Other council business included:

• Denial of a sign ordinance variation for Greater Birmingham Humane Society, located at 185 Oxmoor Road.
• Approval of a sign ordinance variation for Tire Engineers, located at 215 Green Springs Highway.
• Approval of an on or off premises beer and table wine license for Lin Hua Supermarket, located at 22 Green Springs Highway.
• Approval of a restaurant liquor license for Jim ‘N Nick’s, located at 220 Oxmoor Road.
• Authorization for the mayor to enter a franchise agreement with Alabama Power. This is a renewal of a contract that was first created in 1985.
• Declaration of several Public Services department vehicles as surplus, including two trucks, a large vacuum engine and a trailer.
• Approval of an estoppel certificate to prevent the sale of the property located at 1903 29th Avenue South.
• Authorization for the mayor to sign an Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs (ADECA) grant application. If received, the grant will provide $10,000 for the police department to purchase in-car video systems.
• Declaration of the properties at 1602 Ridge Road as a public nuisances due to excessive growth.
• Dropping a public nuisance charge against the property at 924 Irving Road.
• The special issues committee was asked to consider rezoning the property at 2821 Central Avenue from Central Business District to Light Manufacturing District. If approved, the building would be used for by Red Hills Brewing Company, a craft brewery and tavern. A public hearing for the rezoning was also set for Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
• A public hearing was set for Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. to consider a front yard fence variance and an agreement to put the fence in the right of way at 403 Oxmoor Road.
• The finance committee was asked to consider restriping a section of road between Oxmoor Road and Edgeview Avenue, as well as adding center lines on Parkridge Drive.
• The finance committee was also asked to look at possible solutions to traffic safety issues at Homewood High School during wet conditions.
• The public works committee was asked to consider the pavement management contract with Volkert, Inc. and updating the city’s master plan and sidewalk list.
• Approval of payment for adding speed humps to the alley between Reese Street and Oxmoor Road.
• The finance committee was also asked to consider declaring six police department vehicles surplus.