Emily Featherston
The Public Works Committee of the Homewood City Council voted to drop the discussion regarding the alleyway behind 1627 Sunset Drive.
The matter was brought up at the last city council meeting, where the council decided to revoke previous permission the homeowner had been given to use the alleyway to take out his trash. The homeowner had 10 days to cease his activities in the alleyway, and the council asked the committee to discuss the matter in order to see if a compromise could be reached.
Multiple neighbors attended the committee meeting to express their concern with the homeowner’s recent clearing of brush and bamboo, and the impact it would have on water runoff.
Ward 2 representative Vance Moody apologized to the neighbors, saying the city neglected to send out a notice to neighbors to have them agree to the permissions the city granted to the homeowner.
The Planning and Development Committee voted to recommend changes to the city’s zoning ordinance with Neighborhood Preservation District. The changes would include changing the ordinance to allow lots 55 feet wide and under to have a maximum height of 32 feet, and lots larger than 55 feet to have a maximum height of 36 feet.
Other Committee Business Included:
Special Issues
- The committee carried over the conversation regarding noise and odors from Buffalo Rock, with the next neighborhood meeting with the company set for Aug. 17.
- The committee carried over conversation about the city’s tree ordinance.
- The committee voted to send out without recommendation a matter regarding a sign variance at 103 Citation Court, on the condition that a public meeting be set.
- The committee carried over the conversation regarding a sanitation and trash collection issue on Ashwood Lane, but reported that the speeding concern had been resolved.
- The committee carried over a request for a sign variance at 1831 28th Avenue S.
- Due to no response from the owner, the committee carried over a request for a fence variance at 612 Hambaugh Avenue.
- The committee carried over a request to reconsider requirements in the home energy section of the international building codes.
- The committee dropped a request for a path to the Publix parking lot.
Public Works
- The committee carried over a request for consideration of road improvements on Mayfield Drive.
- The committee carried over a request for barriers on the east and west sides of I-65 within the Homewood city limits.
Public Safety
- Carried over two alcohol license requests, one for the Fred’s on Greensprings Highway and one for Mi Pueblo Supermarket, as neither had passed inspection by the fire department as of the meeting.
- The committee voted to recommend Ordinance 19-15 in order to add the intersection of Oak Grove and Oxmoor Road for the installation of a crosswalk.
- The committee carried over the discussion of traffic concerns on Hambaugh Avenue.
- The committee carried over the discussion of parking and traffic concerns on Broadway Street.
Planning and Development
- The committee voted to set a public hearing on Aug. 22 about changing the 500 Block of Rumson Road to a one-way street.
- The committee carried over discussion about past, present and future sidewalk projects.
- The committee voted to give Mayor Scott McBrayer a favorable recommendation regarding the addition of funding for the city’s master plan in next year’s budget.
- The committee voted to send out without recommendation, pending a public hearing on Aug. 22, a rezoning request for 822 Columbiana Road for the construction of four townhomes.
