Homewood City Hall
Any action regarding noise and odor concerns in the area of Buffalo Rock and Mayfield Dairy stalled again today, as the Homewood special issues committee chose to carry discussion over to its next meeting.
A resident of the area who was present during the meeting said Mayfield Dairy conducted testing in his backyard for roughly 10 hours recently, though it is not known whether the results of those tests will be shared with city leaders. Representatives from neither company were present at today's meeting.
The special issues committee also discussed drafting an ordinance further prohibiting short-term rentals in single-family dwellings, like those facilitated by companies such as Airbnb. The proposed ordinance would prohibit any short-term rentals at HPDs and single-family for any less than 90 days. City attorney Mike Kendrick said he will draft the ordinance before the next committee meeting for discussion.
During the finance committee meeting, Councilman Vance Moody extended the conversation regarding the odor and noise concerns in West Homewood. He and Councilman Fred Hawkins have been in contact with third-party environmental consultant Volatile Analysis of Huntsville to look into the issue, he said. Hawkins and Moody said they are waiting on a proposal from the consultants on what the study would entail and what it would cost. Any decision regarding the study’s funding was therefore carried over.
Tonight, the Homewood City Council also:
- Approved the audit results for fiscal 2015 from the Carr Riggs and Ingram CPA firm.
- Authorized Mayor Scott McBrayer to sign agreements for the city to join the Birmingham Emergency Communication District/Jefferson County 800 MHz/SmartX Radio System and to finance public safety communications equipment for the police and fire departments.
- Amended the city's fiscal 2016 budget to help pay for new uniforms for newly-hired police officers.
- Agreed to use money from the 7-cent gas tax to finance the installation of a street light on Manhattan Street for $140 per year.
- Carried over a public hearing for consideration of a variance to the sign ordinance at #1 Lakeshore Drive.
- Carried over a request to allow the sale of beer and wine at Homewood Fuel at 317A West Valley Ave.
- Carried over a request to allow the sale of liquor at Homewood Package at 317A West Valley Ave.
- Set a public hearing for April 11 at 6 p.m. to consider a request from Circle K Store Inc. to rezone property at 1250 Columbiana Road from a commercial district to a neighborhood shopping district.
- Set a public hearing for April 11 at 6 p.m. to consider a request from One West Associates Inc. to rezone property at #1 West Lakeshore Drive from a commercial district to a neighborhood shopping district.
- Set a public hearing for April 11 at 6 p.m. to consider a request from Southeast Medical Homewood LLC to rezone property at 35 West Lakeshore Drive from a preferred commercial district to an office building district.