Meeting Minutes for October 2021

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October 25th, 2021 Minutes

I. Read Meeting Minutes - September 2021

  • September 2021 meeting minutes were read to meeting attendees.

II. New Business

  • Approve meeting minutes for September 2021

    • Motion to approve minutes was made by Vincent Solfronk and seconded by Elizabeth Murrary.

      • Motion was approved by unanimous consent.

  • MLK Unity Breakfast Table

    • Motion to approve expense of $400 for a table at the 36th Annual MLK Unity Breakfast was made by Vincent Solfronk and seconded by Betty Brown.

      • Motion was approved by unanimous consent.

III. Presentations

  • DeAngel Enge - Purple Event Center

    • Ms. Enge is interested in opening an event venue for weddings, corporate gatherings and birthday parties in the Crestwood Festival Center. She is an event planner who wants to try opening her own business.

    • Hana Berres, Cresthill Road Resident

      • Ms. Berres noted her property abuts to the Crestwood Festival Center and expressed many objections to Ms. Enge’s proposed business. Ms. Berres was concerned about the possible noise problems since deliveries would be made to the back door, the noise of garbage trucks in the early hours of the morning, the risk of drunk driving due to them serving alcohol, and lighting which will adversely affect her backyard garden and wildlife.

        • Ms. Enge noted that her business would be occupying a space that had previously housed a different event center. She further explained that she is not requesting any variances and intends to do business within the guidelines of the City of Birmingham including closing by midnight on weekend nights.

    • Tracy Giliom, Crestwood South Resident

      • Ms. Giliom stated that she was originally concerned but after speaking with Birmingham City officials about the issue, she was no longer alarmed and expressed support of Ms. Enge’s request.

    • Counselor Abbott expressed her confusion as to what the neighborhood needed to vote on since no variances were being requested by Ms. Enge.

      • After a discussion on proper parliamentary procedure, a motion was made by Houston Brown to adjourn the meeting until October 26th to consider the issue of the Enge application. The motion was seconded by Tracy Giliom and it was passed unanimously. 

      • President Worthington assured that everyone would be given notice of the resumed meeting once she has gotten clarity as to what the neighborhood is being asked to approve.

IV. Reports

  • Officer Reports

    • A parcel of land next to The Arc of Central Alabama property behind 58th Street will be auctioned off in early November.

      • Property is zoned as R2 which only allows single family homes.

        • Any change in zoning would have to be voted on by the neighborhood.

      • Vice President Murray spoke of past proposed developments in the neighborhood and assured everyone that CSNA officers will keep an eye on the issue. 

  • Police - Jessica Burton, Officer Hutchison

    • The Real Time Crime Center is open and will help solve crimes more quickly.

    • Trunk or Treat event has been canceled.

  • Fire

    • Not present.

  • Birmingham Library - Vincent Solfronk

    • Bards & Brews event is taking place on November 5th at 6:30 at the Central Library in downtown Birmingham.

    • Many Halloween events are happening at the library. Check www.bplonline.org for details.

  • Public Works - Arthur Wilder

    • To report public works issues to Mr. Wilder, call 205-254-2061 or email arthur.wilder2@birminghamal.gov.

    • Vice President Murray asked if visible fencing for dogs is legal. He wasn’t sure but said he would look into it.

    • Another neighbor asked about removing a pile of limbs and debris in the parking lot of Crestwood Park and asked about some leaning utility poles on the South side of Crestwood Boulevard between 50th and 52nd Streets. President Worthington thought this had already been inspected and the trees were deemed safe by the city.

  • CRR - Harold Houston

  • To report neighborhood issues to Mr. Houston, call 205-254-2523 or email  harold.houston@birminghamal.gov.

  • CSNA current neighborhood balance: $12,756.41.

  • The cases of doggie bags the neighborhood ordered for the Clairmont Walking Trail have been delivered.

  • All new neighborhood business needs to be voted on by November 1st.

  • CAB - Liz Murray

    • No report.

V. City Representatives

  • City Council Representatives

  • Hunter Williams, Councilor, District 2

    • No reports.

  • Valerie A. Abbott, Councilor, District 3

    • No reports.

  • School Board

    • Neonta Williams, District 2

      • Ms. Williams introduced herself and invited the neighborhood to attend the swearing-in of the new BBOE members on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at A.H. Parker High School.

    • Mary Boehm, District 3

      • Not present.

VI. Announcements

  • Brush pickup dates - November 4th, November 30th

  • Recycling pickup dates - November 3rd, November 17th

  • Next meeting - November 22nd

October 26th, 2021 Minutes

I. Return from Recess

  • Motion to return from recess of previous meeting was made by Kayla MacNeil and seconded by Vincent Solfronk.

    • Motion was approved by unanimous consent.

II. Read Meeting Minutes - October 25th, 2021

  • Previous meeting minutes relevant to the Purple Event Center request were read to attendees.

III. Clarification on Item to be Voted On

  • President Worthington clarified what the neighborhood needed to vote on regarding the proposed event center.

    • The City of Birmingham passed an ordinance in 2017 requiring special approval to allow any new event center to open and operate within the City.

    • Because Ms. Enge is a new owner who wants to open an event center after the 2017 ordinance passed, she requires this special approval.

      • This ordinance was put in place to ensure that the business owner is aware of restrictions on the hours of operation for an event center.

      • Additionally, the Zoning Board may require a traffic study to be conducted.

    • No variance request is required nor are any changes to the existing restrictions for the hours of operation being requested.

IV. Questions & Comments

  • Hana Berres, Cresthill Road Resident

    • Ms. Berres noted her concerts regarding potential noise from vendors of the event center and garbage not being thrown in proper receptacles.

      • President Worthington noted that the requestor, Ms. Enge, previously stated that events would end at 11:00 PM to allow vendors time to leave by midnight.

      • Dr. Darryl Lee noted if noise or other nuisances occurs, to call Birmingham police. Dr. Lee also noted that he would share the City’s nuisance laws to be posted on Crestwood South website so they are available to neighbors.

  • Liz Murray, CSNA Vice President

    • Vice President Murray suggested that the business owner could add signage to exits as a reminder to vendors about reducing noise.

V. Motion to Vote

  • Motion to allow a special exception for an event center for The Purple Event Center was made by Kayla MacNeil and seconded by Houston Brown.

    • Votes in favor: 10

    • Votes opposed: 1

  • Motion was approved by a majority vote.