Council approves partial fence variance for ‘Broadway triangle’ houses

Despite bringing letters from 10 neighbors supporting his plans to build a fence on the “Broadway triangle” property, developer Chris Tucker was only partially successful in receiving fence variances.

Tucker brought the request before the city council to build a three-feet-high picket fence on three sides of the property, where he plans to build five houses. The fences, he said, were necessary because of the property’s unusual situation in the middle of three streets – Broadway Street, Carr Avenue and Short Saulter Road. He said the speed of cars on those roads was a concern for nearby residents, as well as the nearby restaurants, bus stop and public parking.

“It just functionally needs a fence,” Tucker said. “I’m just trying to build something that is good for everybody.”

In the past the city council has been opposed to front yard fences, which is what they consider the proposed fence on Broadway. The plan to extend fencing partially into the city right-of-way was also a topic of concern.

“We need to be consistent in what we do,” Ward 3 Representative Walter Jones said.

In the course of discussion, Tucker noted to the council that the sidewalk extended beyond city property into his own property at one point. The council plans to set up a meeting with Tucker to discuss easement options for this section of sidewalk.

Ultimately, the council decided to approve variances to build fences along the sidewalks of Carr and Short Saulter. The front yard fence on Broadway was denied.

During the same meeting, the council heard from Carol Chesnutt of Homewood City Schools about applying for a $50,000 ADECA grant through the Police Department. The grant, which has a July 15 application deadline, would allow the school system to set up a “Champions” program using repurposed law enforcement funds.

The Champions program, Chesnutt said, is designed to identify at-risk students, especially among athletes, and set up activities to keep them invested in school and out of the criminal justice system.

“We want to keep them connected to the school and the community,” Chesnutt said.

Since the grant, if approved, would be implemented by the city finance department rather than the school system, the council requested that Chesnutt create a memorandum of understanding between the city and school system for the management of this program. The council approved the grant application pending this memorandum.

Other council business included:

• Purchasing a new street sweeper for $128,000. Mayor Scott McBrayer made the request because the city’s current sweeper has broken down after 10 years and needs to be replaced before the new fiscal year. Funds for the purchase will be taken from the capital projects fund’s carryover balance, which is funding for projects that have been delayed for this fiscal year.
• Approving the reduction of parking at 1659 28th Ave. S. The property owner, Abby Santiago, requested to reduce from four spaces to three, the minimum required by the property’s mixed use zoning. She plans to shift the parking slightly toward the alleyway and create more green space, as well as make some aesthetic improvements to the building.
• A recommendation to the mayor to fund an 18th Street revitalization project. The city has applied for an ALDOT grant to cover 80 percent of the total cost for the project, which would add landscaping, sidewalks, restriping, crosswalks and possible extra parking to 18th Street.
• Approving a restaurant retail liquor license for DoDiYo’s, located at 1831 28th^t Ave. S. Suite 110.
• Denying a driveway ordinance variance for 3104 Roxbury Road.
• Setting July 6 as the bid opening date for the West Homewood Revitalization Project.
• Setting a public hearing for July 13 to consider a rezoning request by Brookwood Medical Center for the property at 525 Brookwood Blvd. The center wants to build an orthopedics pavilion and parking structure.
• Setting another July 13 public hearing for a sign ordinance variance for the property at 579 Brookwood Village.
• Setting a July 13 public hearing for a fence ordinance variance at 1424 Melrose Place.
• Setting hearings for four properties to consider whether the following properties should be declared public nuisances due to excessive growth: 416 Raleigh Ave., 112 Knoll Crest Drive, 1602 Ridge Road and 260 Oxmoor Road.
• Carrying over a public hearing of driveway and fence ordinance variances at 605 Oakmoor Drive.
• Carrying over discussion of a pavement management system with Volkert Engineering.