Mountain Brook City Council hears updates on Lane Parke, proposed cellphone ordinance

John Evans of Evson, Inc. on Monday night updated the Mountain Brook City Council on the status of the Lane Parke Project. Kinnucan’s Specialty Outfitters, said Evans, which carries brands for an active lifestyle, is working to be open by the time the back-to-school rush begins. From there, other stores will follow, he said, with all stores and restaurants open by October.

The “shells” of the tenants’ spaces were turned over to the shop owners April 11, said Evans, and since then, tenants have been busy building out their storefronts.

“The ribbon cuttings will start happening at a good pace once the first one is held,” said Evans.

Once Western Supermarket moves into its new space, Phase 2 of the project will get underway and will primarily consist of women’s fashion and boutiques. The current development will be demolished to the edge of the current Western, where a few retailers with non-expired leases will remain. Evans said negotiations are currently underway with some of those retailers in an effort to help speed up the complete demolition project. The fully-functional Jemison Lane, which will connect Montevallo to Lane Park Road, will ease access into the area and should be complete by Christmas 2017.

On Monday night, the council also heard recommendations for the ordinance regarding cellphone usage in school zones. Findings from a recent study conducted to help draft the ordinance measured the instances where drivers at each of the city’s schools were using phones and how they were using them. The study found that the device use rate at Mountain Brook High School, Brookwood Forest Elementary, Cherokee Bend, Crestline and Mountain Brook Elementary was higher than the national average.

The ordinance, which was not voted on Monday night, would prohibit the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle in school zones between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and then again between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Cellphone use would only be prohibited while cars in and around carpool lines are in motion.

Asked about the enforceability of such an ordinance, Police Chief Ted Cook said it could be done now but may be difficult due to the amount of manpower and manpower hours required.

“Still," said Cook, “having rules in place is better than not having anything in place.”

Council President Virginia Smith said although the council took no action on the matter Monday night, it would need to pass an ordinance on the matter before school starts should it choose to do so in order to allow parents enough time to become familiar with the new rules.

In other news, the council also:

• Authorized the Mayor or City Manager to apply for funding from the Metropolitan Planning Organization for engineering design to replace one bridge and rehab another in Mountain Brook.  
• Approved a resolution to continue to allow Western Supermarkets the ability to sell alcohol at its new location following its relocation from 2717 Culver Road to 1000 Jemison Lane in early to mid-October 2016.
• Authorized the purchase of two ambulances through the HGAC Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, declared two 2009 model ambulances surplus and authorized their trade.
• Ratified the bid award for the purchase and installation of two HVAC units for Emmet O’Neal Library.
• Established the compensation for municipal court justices.
• Set a public hearing for July 25, 2016 at 7 p.m. to consider the adoption of a resolution approving the Petition for Vacation of a portion of South Cove Drive filed by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
• Authorized the execution of three service and facility use agreements between the city and Mountain Brook Athletics, Mountain Brook Soccer Association, and Mountain Brook Lacrosse.
• Amended a portion of the City Code with respect to the time and place of holding court.

The next regular meeting of the City Council is July 11 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall located at 56 Church Street.