Planning & Zoning Committee - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The Planning & Zoning Committee discussed an update to the Tekkan Meghalaya rezoning map, specifically for areas in Red Mountain, Crestwood, and Crestline. Due to community feedback, two areas initially proposed for D5 zoning were changed to D3 Single Family Residential, making existing multi-family units legally non-conforming. The committee also approved rules for the Design Review Committee and addressed issues with previous public hearing notices.

About this meeting

Government Body
Planning & Zoning Committee
Meeting Type
Planning & Zoning Committee
Location
Birmingham, AL
Meeting Date
August 25, 2026

Transcript

28 sections

0:00 – 2:55Speaker 1

Time is 6 minutes past 3 in the afternoon. We have 28 lay minutes in July. It is not complete yet. So, we can accept it at the next PNC meeting. Next is the Inam Framework Plan. There are two things in today's agenda. The first Inam SAC is 2025. Poojam Poojam Poojam Poojam 2 R. This is an update on the rezoning map of Tekkan Meghalaya. The 9th number of Red Mountain map has been moved to the D-3 Single Family Residential. Hello, Kim. Can you give an update on this? Certainly, sir. Greetings to everyone this afternoon. My name is Kim Sparrow. I am the zoning administrator of the city. This is the update. Just a week ago, we held a meeting in Tekken Meghalaya to investigate the three maps Red Mountain, Crestwood, and Crestline. In that meeting, we understood that there were many doubts about the two clouds that coincided with the 9th number of the map. Those areas were in the Forest Park area. One of them was a half block with a line of condos. They are historical buildings, but they were condos. We had instructed them to convert them into 5 multifamily. They are 6-3 in size. For that, there was a half block in the north zone of 63 zones. Their houses, duplexes, townhomes, quadruplexes, etc. were used in many ways. The first thing we wanted to do was to move them to D5. Last week, we received so many responses from the community. After that, as a staff, we again decided to investigate the map when there was a problem with the presentation. You can see that this is reflected in the maps that you need. Those two clouds are now being moved from R3 to D3. Last night, we announced this at a special community meeting. No one objected to the transfer of D5 from D5 to D3. The people in the area agreed to it. Therefore, the two clouds that were to be transferred to D5 will be transferred to D3 as a new red mountain map vote.

3:10Speaker 4

Yes, tell me.

3:10 – 3:32Speaker 3

Yes, that is, the buildings in those areas. Do zoning regulations apply? Are they allowed in the state? Is she allowed to stay in D3? No. So, all of them are in R3.

3:32 – 4:55Speaker 1

So, all of them are now legally non-confirming. So, we had ordered her to move to D5. That would have prevented these legal arrangements. But the person next to her was interested in staying as a single family. So, she will continue in a legally non-confirming state. There will be no change in that. So, she is now non-confirming. She will continue like this after the zoning change. So, if the buildings are destroyed in a fire or firewood fire, the person who is not a single family, if they want to work as before, they will have to seek permission from the zoning board of adjustment. I think there are only two or three units that were used for single family needs. Therefore, I know that a zoning department called R4 used to be available to us. R3 means single family, R5 means multifamily, and then R4 was available. I think it was available to quadruplets. Duplex, triplex, quadruplex. Yes, yes.

4:55Speaker 3

Did we avoid R4 according to the new zoning regulations? No, there is still D4.

5:01 – 8:51Speaker 1

In this situation, the illegal areas of the parcels with condos were not avoided by D4. Therefore, we thought that it was impossible to determine whether D4 is non-confirming or D3 is not. If D3 was enough for the Ayyalvasis, we were also willing to move to a single family. In the other half of the block, D4 was also able to deal with some inconsistencies, but the difference is that D4 now allows multiples of up to 12 units. It was a change in the number of units in that part of the block. If someone bought one of those properties and removed it, they could do 12 units instead of 4 units. People in Ayalpaka were interested in it, because we added multiplex in D4 a year ago. That's why we moved those two sites to D3. So, in a conceptual sense, let's talk about that half block with the condos. Yes. So, help me understand how many units are in that parcel. That parcel is a whole half block. It is a big parcel. There are five buildings that look like big houses. Each building has four condo units. That's why there are more than 12 units there. They won't allow D4. The only zoning district that could make it legal was only D5. But the residents wanted these buildings to be a single-family residential instead of a large multi-family building. So, we discussed something about D or QD5. As part of this process, we have not added any Q facilities to a property. That's why it wasn't an option, because we haven't done that in the reasonings within the community. Now, if the property owner wants to go through that process, we can discuss it with them. But they are in R3 itself. So we are only changing the name of R3 to D3. Right? Yes, I am talking about the legal non-conforming. Yes, that's right. Let me add one more thing to this. Hannah Garman, our historical preservation manager, was at the event last week. They were able to share some details. It is part of the historic district that we did not even have zoning ordinances in the 20s when those buildings were actually built. So, even if something happens and she reaches ZBA, she will have to submit it to the investigation of the local committee again. Then it will come in front of the design review committee. They would like to build a building that looks like an old one instead of a big building.

8:55Speaker 3

But according to the zoning law, it is not allowed. ZBA, ZBA, it is not allowed.

9:00Speaker 1

Therefore, we can investigate this possibility.

9:04Speaker 3

Therefore, if God wills, all the buildings will be burned down and destroyed, and the buildings will have to be rebuilt as before,

9:29 – 10:11Speaker 1

They will have to go to ZBA because the zoning board of adjustment will investigate that request. First, it will go to the neighborhood association in response to the residents. Then, the zoning board will listen to the request because it is broken by a legal non-conforming fire or a natural disaster. If the zoning board is approved, it will then pass through the design review process. The local neighborhood committee and the design review committee will conduct a survey on it. So it can be rebuilt as it is now.

10:11Speaker 4

But it will have to get variants and variants. That's right.

10:15Speaker 1

You can't build anything bigger than what you have now. It gives the residents more security.

10:33Speaker 4

That's all I have to say now.

10:35Speaker 3

Thank you, councillor. Are there any more questions from the committee? Since there are no other questions, thank you. Can we have anything else? Okay.

10:43 – 11:03Speaker 4

Is there anyone who would like to make a motion? Those in favour? Yes, those who oppose.

11:04 – 11:36Speaker 3

Okay, the amendment has been passed. Next in the agenda are the rules and regulations. The design review committee has the rules. Yes, Raleigh. The committee members have received information related to the Resume and Regulations. This is it. Okay.

11:36 – 12:02Speaker 1

There's someone from the design review committee here. Hello, how are you? Thank you. Do you have any questions for the committee members?

12:30Speaker 4

Do you think this is to stop the movement of the pre-trial period that ended on July 30? No.

12:37 – 12:50Speaker 1

That's right. That's right. How long is the period of the law? Forgive me. How long is the period of the law? They are making the law. We have accepted the law. For how long? Three years? The period is three years. That's right.

12:59 – 13:26Speaker 4

Okay. Do you have more questions for the committee members? Okay. Do we have a statement in front of us? Thank you. The second person has passed. Those who agree. Do I have anyone against me? Okay. Okay. That statement has passed. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, Ms. Kim.

13:26 – 14:14Speaker 1

Can I say one more thing? I have an update for you. There are two resourcing plans left. Pratt & Slee Public Hearing is scheduled for September 22. We will hold a meeting with those two communities who have questions at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. The public hearing of the southern area will be held again within the next one or two weeks. If it is not next week, it will be held on the council agenda next week. We expect it to take place in mid-October. Those provisions are for your information. One question. One question. Tell me.

14:14 – 14:28Speaker 3

The previous two public hearings were not properly presented. Did you find out what the reason was?

14:31 – 15:10Speaker 1

Yes. A public hearing was not held. It was a breach in the Sadyan area. Notices and statements were held, but black and white maps were not included in that. We thought it was important to make sure that the hearing was recorded because black and white maps were shown in the ad. Because some people use Alabama Messenger, maps will be recorded in that ad and on our website. There will be a QR code in the announcements for residents to go to the website. Okay.

15:24Speaker 4

Did we find out how it happened? Yes. I think it happened by accident. We don't know the exact details of it.

15:32 – 15:43Speaker 1

We only know that it didn't reach the Alabama messenger. But the Black and White Bureau has sent it to them correctly. Now it is under investigation. This time we have investigated it. Yes.

15:55 – 16:28Speaker 3

This is a big disappointment. You know that you have to be disappointed when something like this happens, right? Because it costs a lot to carry out such common hearings. Therefore, make sure that an incident like this does not happen again. Certainly. I agree with you. Yes. When will the hearing be held for the two framework plans? The hearing will be held on September 22nd.

16:28 – 17:40Speaker 1

The hearing will be held on September 22nd. The hearing will be held on September 22nd. The hearing will be held on September 22nd. The hearing will be held on September 22nd. The hearing will be held on September 22nd. The hearing will be held on September 22nd. If so, the next week will be on the council agenda or on the next week. The map has to be changed at the base of the general hearing that took place this morning, so it was changed to a second area plan. If the map is changed and the maps are ready, we will submit it to the council. Therefore, if the next Wednesday is not on the agenda, it will be the next Wednesday, then we will get the results. I think it will be in mid-October. But we will not hold a general hearing on Classical Tuesday. So, no need to worry. We will make sure that it is in progress. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, coach. Do you have any questions for the staff from the committee?

17:40Speaker 3

I don't hear anything. Okay. Second. Do you all agree?

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.