New Lane Parke plan receives positive response at Planning Commission hearing
A third plan for the Lane Parke development in Mountain Brook Village received a positive response from residents at the city’s Planning Commission public hearing Monday evening at Mountain Brook Junior High School.
“I am thrilled,” said Sallie Johnson, who lives a few blocks from the village. “I think it’s a good plan, and the way [Evson] responded to criticisms [of previous plans] was very respectful. I hope the inn works as well.”
The public hearing will continue Monday, April 2 at the auditorium at Mountain Brook Junior High School. Once all remaining details have been discussed, the commission will vote on whether to grant the development Planned Unit Development zoning.
John Evans of Evson, Inc., the family business that has owned Mountain Brook Shopping Center and Lane Parke apartments since 1947, began the presentation by saying he hoped this hearing process would complete their years of work on the plans.
Jeffrey Brewer, architect at Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, said he hopes they will be able to start on the project in the fall.
In his presentation, Brewer outlined the details of the plan and how it conforms to the Village Masterplan and offers a comprehensive approach to the whole property. He also described how the plan would be under a strict set of restrictions and constraints in its contract between the contractor and the city.
Jeff Colvin of Walker Parking Consultants explained how the plan provides 1,201 parking spots, which is more than the peak demand they calculated of 1,136.
Darrell Skipper and Richard Caudle of Skipper Consulting went over their traffic study of the existing village and how they plan to address current issues and mitigate any traffic created by the development. Based on the 22 percent scale back of the Lane Parke plan, a new traffic light will no longer be necessary. They plan to widen Lane Park Road and Culver Road and add a left turn lane onto Montevallo Road for access into the development.
They are continuing to work with the city’s traffic consultants, Sain Associates, on unresolved details of the traffic plan. Jim Meades of Sain Associates said final issues with crosswalks, intersections and sight distances should be resolved by the April 2 meeting.
Planning Commission members asked the following questions of the presenters at the hearing:
Explain what will happen if the inn does not happen.
There is a provision to convert the space to residential usage, but the plan will be amended to have a time limit for the inn plans. “We will make every attempt to make the inn work,” Brewer said.
Will the apartments be rentals or condos?
Rentals.
What would be the amenities of the Woodland Park?
It will be an extension of the Jemison Trail and be more of a natural passing trail.
Wouldn’t the completion of Jemison Lane alleviate traffic issues?
Yes, it would serve as a cut-through and alleviate some but not all traffic.
Where are the crosswalks in the design?
One will be at the north end to connect to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens across Lane Park Road. There will be three to connect the development to the village: one in the southwest that parallels Cahaba Road, a second at Culver Road and Petticoat Lane and a third that is still in the works that will connect around where Sneaky Pete’s is currently located in the village.
What will be the signage or graphics?
A comprehensive sign proposal will be brought to the city to be approved.
What is the time frame for the project?
The developers would like to start this fall with the north end. The first phases of residential and part of the commercial development behind the current shopping center would take about 18 months. The last phase would begin after that and take about a year.
If the parking on Lane Park Road is diagonal, will people have trouble backing out?
Brewer said he believed they will make it safe to back out.
What will the service areas look like?
They will be screened from view with landscaping. Languages to this effect will be added to the plan.
Residents who came forward to speak at the hearing complimented the new plan and voiced concerns regarding final details:
-Whether there will be a sidewalk over the bridge on Montevallo Road after the Regions bank going into the Village –Sallie Johnson
-Whether there will be an area for service truck traffic –John Baker
-That each shops needs its own landing dock and not a “community hallway,” that it is preferred to have an ability to walk from store to store without getting wet during rain, and whether there is a provision for employee parking in the plan –Joanne Long, Dande Lion Shop
-What the plan is for congestion on the Village Circle –Banks Robertson
-Whether the plan will pull retail business from the current center of the village and move the center north; whether Petticoat Lane will be made two-ways instead of one –John McGleese
-What the plan is for handicapped parking and access –Elise Paris
-Whether there will be public restrooms, whether roads will be widened in the center of the village, whether they will start construction during the holiday season –Leah Leaf, Lulie’s on Cahaba
The visual presentation from the March 5 hearing is available for download for anyone who is interested.
To learn more about the new Lane Parke plan, read Village Living’s full coverage of the plan, view images of the proposed development, or visit LaneParke.info.