Council approves entering into cooperative district for Liberty Parkway improvements

The Vestavia Hills City Council voted Monday to enter into an agreement with two other government entities for the future of the commercial area of Liberty Park.

City Manager Jeff Downes went through the proposal for a capital planning cooperative district between Vestavia, the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, which will work in tandem with Liberty Park Joint Venture, Encompass Health and representative for the Urban Center.

The district was discussed at the council’s strategic planning session in January, where Downes explained the reasoning behind forming a cooperative district.

With the growing number of businesses in the Urban Center and the development of the “700 Acres,” Downes explained at the work session and at Monday night’s meeting that the need to expand Liberty Parkway and re-work key intersections to support additional traffic has become increasingly clear.

The cooperative district, which representing attorney for the city Heyward Hosch explained works similarly to a joint venture but is limited in its authority, would work together to make the improvements to the infrastructure possible and distribute the cost according to predetermined percentages. Overall, the section of the road in front of the “700 Acres” would cost about $3 million, and the section closest to Interstate 459 would cost about $850,000.

The lionshare of the cost, about 58 percent of it to the tune of $2.58 million, would be covered by the Liberty Park Joint Venture. The city’s portion, about 13 percent, would be around $525,000.

Vestavia resident and Cahaba Riverkeeper Board Chair Peggy Gargis addressed the council during the public hearing, asking about how the cooperative district would have to move through environmental and other permitting processes.

Downes said that like any development, the improvements to Liberty Parkway would have to go through the same engineering study and permitting processes.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Ashley Curry and the council proclaimed March 13 as Freedom from Addiction Day.

The day will be marked by the inaugural Freedom from Addiction Coalition awareness breakfast, where speakers and representatives from local agencies that treat and aim to prevent addiction to drugs and alcohol will be onsite to raise awareness and provide resources.

Curry and mayors from neighboring municipalities are hoping to prevent addiction, but he added that he hopes Vestavia will set up a system for those who reach out to the city for help.

The breakfast will take place at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church at 8 a.m.

Other Council Business Included:

• Approving the 90-final annexation and the rezoning of 3533 Squire Lane.
• Approving an amendment to the city’s policy for retired, pre-medicare age employee health benefits, raising the cap from $600 to $1000 per month.
• Approving a resolution to declare a Vestavia Hills Fire Department vehicle as surplus.