Council carries over discussion of parking signs
With the ad hoc parking solutions committee ready for its second meeting, the city council carried over discussion of parking signs in a lot behind several 18th Street South businesses to see if the committee can provide more long-term solutions.
David Brandt of Fravert Services represented the businesses from 2800 to 2836 18th St. S., who wish to install new pole signs at the entrances of the parking lot between 18th Street South and Linden Avenue. The signs would inform drivers that the lot is for customers only and violators will be towed.
There are already several of these signs on the property, which Brandt wanted to replace with larger ones to make them more visible. He was requesting both size and type variances. Homewood does not allow pole signs in its sign ordinance, and Brandt's designs were 12 square feet in area, above the four square feet allowed.
"They are not visible from the road," Brandt said of the current red and white signs. "We want to make something that is indeed legible from the road so drivers don't pull in the wrong lot."
The signs would list the names of businesses who use the lot, and he said it would be a "preventative measure" to avoid towing vehicles. He and several business owners in the audience, including representatives of Homewood Toy and Hobby and Shaia's, said that parking had been an ongoing problem, especially around lunchtime.
Concerns came from several council members, including Ward 4 Representative Barry Smith who felt that signs at each of the three entrances would create "a whole lot of red in people's faces." Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright said he was also concerned about overall limited downtown parking and closing off potential empty spaces to shoppers.
In general, the council expressed their opposition to approving new pole signs.
Wright first suggested that the parking solutions committee, which was recently formed to look at Homewood parking comprehensively, could provide long-term parking solutions without having to install new signs. He noted that large signs have the potential to be "not welcoming" to shoppers, and that business owners are a "critical asset" in the parking solutions process.
Brandt replied that the business owners are hoping to install the signs as part of a resurfacing project that will begin in September. Walter Busenlehner of Homewood Toy and Hobby asked that he and other business owners be invited to the next parking solutions committee meeting, which committee chair and Ward 1 Representative Britt Thames said would happen.
Chairman Bruce Limbaugh decided to carry the issue over, since the parking committee will meet before the next council meeting in two weeks.
The council also:
- Thanked city attorney Mike Kendrick, city staff and multiple state representatives for their work on sponsoring a bill allowing Homewood to annex some portions of county land on "islands" in the city. The bill passed the state senate and house and is waiting on the governor's approval.
- Set a public hearing for Sept. 14 to consider dissolving the Community Development Review Committee (CDRC) for West Homewood.
- Set a public hearing for Aug. 24 to consider adopting 2015 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, Property Maintenance, Energy Conservation, National Electrical and Fire Codes.
- Set a public hearing for Aug. 24 to consider a driveway ordinance variance for 105 Yorkshire Drive.
- Approved a table wine license for Red Pearl Restaurant and Super Oriental Market, 243 W. Valley Ave., Suite 121.
- Approved the homeowner at 222 Devon Drive to work in the city's right-of-way to construct a parking pad and retaining wall, subject to signing an indemnification agreement.
- Carried over discussion of allowing work in the right-of-way at 3107 Whitehall Road to construct a parking pad. Homeowner Brett Bloomston said the current driveway is shared with a neighbor and is too narrow for all cars to park, plus the street usually has cars parked on both sides. The council was unsure that his request was considered a hardship. Bloomston will bring pictures and possible alternatives for the council to consider at its next meeting.
The next council meeting is Aug. 24.