A6 • June 2018
Village Living
City
Council approves rezoning for Overton Village property BJCTA/MAX bus circulator pilot program proposed to help alleviate demand for parking By L EX I COON Mountain Brook City Council voted 4- 1 to approve the rezoning of property located near Overton V illage from mixed use to residential during a public hearing May 14, after months of meetings. This decision effectively allows the proposed development for the Overton V illage Condos to proceed. he initial development was first re ected by the council in December, and development representative Charlie Beavers and architect Brian arrett spoke first to the council addressing the changes that were made to the pro ect since that decision. In addition to removing the portion that would have existed in V estavia Hills, developer Ron Durham agreed to take two units off each side of the third story to lower the ends to two stories. The reductions cut the living units from 4 4 units to 27 , four of which will be townhomes. While this reduction was aimed at lowering the density, it also hoped to address “the looming effect” that nearby residents brought up in previous meetings. The overall height was reduced as well so a previously approved height variance is no longer needed. Finally, an access drive was created exiting to Poe Drive, which Barrett said will be gated and for emergency vehicles only. “Residents will not be coming and going through that access,” Barrett said. Three area residents spoke against the development. While changes to the building height were made, afiz handiwala, who has spoken
Architect Brian Barrett reviews the changes that were made to the proposed Overton Village Condos plan with Mountain Brook City Council members during its May 14 meeting. Photos by Lexi Coon.
at previous meetings, said they could have done more to reduce it. Other concerns pertained to traffic in the area and the potential impact on schools. eavers discussed traffic in the last Planning Commission meeting and submitted a letter from Skipper Consulting that said the development would not heavily affect traffic in the surrounding area.
Resident Samantha Ebert said she was still worried about the impact the development may have on schools and construction’s effect on nearby businesses. “I’m for development, 1 00 percent,” Ebert said “ e’re ust not there under this circumstance in my opinion.” Ebert said she and other local residents felt defeated by this pro ect t was a sentiment
echoed by Frances Wang, who spoke as an elected representative for residents along with Chandiwala, and she said there are people who still oppose it. “As a community, we fought so hard to have this be something that works for our neighborhood and for the surrounding homes ... this is not substantially different from what was proposed before,” Wang said. “Part of the reason