New U.S. 31 lighting project delayed, council votes to continue support of pedestrian bridge
The Vestavia Hills City Council met Monday for its final 2016 meeting to discuss multiple items of business before the new year.
Before business got underway, City Manager Jeff Downes explained that two items of business were to be withdrawn from the agenda.
The first, Resolution 4906, which would authorize the city to enter an agreement with LED solutions for new white-way lighting along U.S. 31, was withdrawn because of extenuating circumstances with ALDOT.
Downes explained that when the city began the Request For Proposal process, both respondents submitted plans with a particular light fixture that would need to be approved by ALDOT. After some back and forth and a request for written confirmation that the fixtures would be approved, Downes said that the ALDOT regional office responded that the proposed fixtures require additional testing, and that there are only two currently-approved options.
Downes said that in light of the response from ALDOT, the city would like to go back through the RFP process and allow current and additional respondents to submit proposals in light of there being only two approved options.
Redoing the process, Downes said, would push back the project by 30 to 60 days.
Additionally, a rezoning request on the corner of Cahaba Heights Road and Pipeline Road that would have allowed for the construction of a wrestling facility was withdrawn by the applicant. Downes said that because of unforeseen site work that would be required, the applicant opted to forego the project and withdrew the rezoning request.
The rezoning request for lots 38 and 39 of Pine Tree Drive was approved, with the condition that the design of the development remain consistent with the drawing submitted to the council.
The lots, located at 3118 Pine Tree Drive, were rezoned from Vestavia Hills R-1 residential district to Vestavia Hills O-1 office district.
The offices are anticipated to be occupied by two different medical practices: a psychiatrist's office and an ENT practice.
The Council also voted on a measure that would formally turn consideration for a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 31 over to ALDOT for approval. After receiving final confirmation on the federal funds and additional funds for the project, Downes said that the measure would finally move the city into an agreement with ALDOT. The next step, he said, will be to wait for engineering approval from the state.
Other Council Business Included:
- Mayor Ashley Curry reminded the audience that the area is still in a Stage 4 drought emergency, and that watering restrictions are still in effect.
- The lot at 2053 Columbiana Road was rezoned to Institutional District and will be used by Shades Mountain Baptist Church as a green space.
- The Serra automotive sales and service location at 1476 Montgomery Highway was given an 18-month extension on its conditional use approval to allow the business to continue pursuits of reopening after a flood in 2014.
- The former Berry High School property was formally and completely annexed with the 90-day process.
- A fire department utility trailer was declared surplus and approved for sale.
- Downes encouraged residents to vote on playground equipment to be utilized at Meadowlawn Park.