Council considers village property for Church of the Advent offices

At a city council pre-meeting on Monday, June 9, Mountain Brook City Council members heard from Jim Priester, junior warden of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, about the conditional use of property at 2416 Canterbury Road as church offices. The location is currently home to Linda Dobbins Dance Studio.

Dobbins said her lease on the building lasts through 2015 and she has no plans to move out of the village. The Church of the Advent cannot use the building unless Dobbins decides not to renew her lease.

Priester said the church office could bring new customers to neighboring businesses and provide a stable tenant. However, the council expressed concerns that the city ordinances would not cover the parking problems posed by regular group meetings in the space. After discussion, the council decided to pursue changes to the conditional use ordinance to allow more case-by-case handling. The proposed changes would not completely restructure the ordinance, but rather give another option for businesses applying for conditional use.

Council member Billy Pritchard said it was “realistic” for a decision to be made on the property’s use in August. Priester temporarily withdrew the church’s request, but expressed their readiness to comply with use restraints during certain hours of the day.

“We want to work with the city,” Priester said. “We think we can be a great tenant.”

Robert Jolly of Retail Specialists was supposed to give an update to the council on the return of the Crestline Piggly Wiggly, but scheduling difficulties delayed his presentation until the next council meeting.

The council also set up a meeting to discuss changes to the sign ordinance on June 30 at 5:30 p.m.

As part of its consent agenda, the council members also approved:

• A resolution to set a public hearing on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m. The public hearing will consider an ordinance changing the Lane Parke development plan and a proposal to change the Mixed Use Development Plan for the 1930 Cahaba Road property.
• Cooperation with Jefferson County to execute a Community Development Block Grant. This agreement will not cost the city money. It helps the county get grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which can be used in Mountain Brook and other communities.
• A resolution recommending the approval of a retail beer and wine license to Pizza 120, which is located at 2737 U.S. 280 South, Suite 151.
• Participation in a sales tax holiday from Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3. The tax exemption will cover school purchases such as clothing, computers and some school supplies.

The next Mountain Brook city council meeting will be Monday, June 23 at 7 p.m.