Northern Beltline proposed path to affect Palmerdale Historical District Property value
By Cathy Leslie
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According to Historical Pam King, the Palmerdale Homestead Community could be negatively effected by the Northern Beltline path . Several residents attended the public design the public design hearing on November 16 at the Center Point Court House, in which the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) presented maps of the final path of the Northern Beltline from Brookwood Road in Pinson to Old Springville Road in Clay.
The hearing was held to allow Clay residents one final look at the beltline path and submit comments or questions at the hearing to be reviewed by ALDOT. Residents from Clay and some from Pinson expressed interest in the maps. Pinson residents expressed concerns as to where the Northern Beltlines exit and entrance ramps will intersect with Highway 75. The first order of business for some residents was to find their property on the map to see how close the path and right of way was to their property. Residents also asked detailed questions of ALDOT representatives as to how, where and when property in the path of the beltline would be acquired by the state. The representatives said the state would begin to acquire property within 9 months. According to the booklet provided by ALDOT’s right of way Department, the factors considered when choosing the proposed route and design include Economic, Wet Lands, Fish and Wildlife, and historical factors.
Impact studies must also be completed before acquiring property. Palmerdale Methodist Church Pastor Barry Hallman said the beltline path will eventually take the current brick building now used as the churches office but negations have not taken place at this time. ALDOT Division Engineer Brian Davis confirmed that the building would eventually be acquired. ALDOT has already purchased some property in the Pinson and Clay area. In an interview Davis, he also confirmed that property has been acquired but he said it was done so through or because of hardship cases which is allowed by law after studies of each case. Davis also said that since the 2002 Final Design Hearing held for the Pinson area, the beltline path changed slightly due to public comments and further studies by ALDOT. He said until the studies are completed no other property would be acquired and the time line for acquiring the property is in 9 to 12 months.
In a phone interview with Lance Taylor also an engineer with ALDOT, he said that small re-alignments have been made since 2002 but nothing big enough to warrant another design hearing for Pinson. Taylor said as of the day we spoke with him, right of way property was being purchased. One house located at the end of South Valley Road has been purchased and property belonging to the Browns was also being acquired but not the house. According to Melba Brown the right of way will clip her back drive making it approximately 40’ from her house. Brown said she wasn't happy with the idea of looking out her back window at the beltline. Taylor also said that two months ago SHIPA gave their permission for the right of way path. At this time the news has not contacted Bill Garnett with SHIPA although six weeks ago a presentation was made by Pam King in a city council meeting and Palmerdale Homestead Community was given a recommendation by King to request to be listed on the Nations Historic Registry which would allow PHCC to request grant money.
We contacted King about the historical impact the beltline may have on the Palmerdale District. She said, “Yes, the proposed highway could lower the value of Palmerdale houses and, yes, the highway could negatively affect its eligibility for the National Register. After speaking with several Pinson residents, we found that many did not realize that Pinson’s final design meeting had already been held and the meeting that took place on November 16 was for residents effected by the sector from Brookwood Road back to Old Springville road. Davis said the 10 days for comments after the 16th meeting will actually end December 4 so there is still time for residents to voice their concerns.
We ask Pinson City Council members via email, “Do you think the 75 to 79 connection, by itself, will be beneficial in any way for the city of Pinson, travelers from Blount county or Locust Fork residents? Will the stand alone 75-79 section spurn economical growth, or help traffic flow in front of the high school? Do you think the Northern Beltline will have a negative effect on Turkey Creek area?
Mayor Hoyt Sanders replied, “The 75 to 79 connection will benefit emergency personnel and school parents particularly. Parents from the Woodhaven/Palmerdale area will be able to get to Kermit Johnson more directly. Currently, those travelers must come down to Rudd Road or 79/151 before heading North. The same is true of Emergency personnel. Fire/Rescue and Sheriff Deputies will be able to get back and forth from the Bradford and Palmerdale areas more efficiently. When the connection is made to 59, traffic could likely ease traffic on 75 and 79 and Sweeney Hollow Road as southbound travelers would have a path to 59 other than central Pinson to Sweeney Hollow.”
Councilor Shane Shelnutt replied, “The 75 to 79 connection may not have an immediate economic or traffic impact on the city of Pinson but should be beneficial to the city in a couple of ways. The first benefit will be that the Northern Beltline will start to become a reality and not just some vision on paper. Sometimes the hardest part of any project, whether small or large, is getting started. With the completion of the 75-79 connection, the NB project will be started and more federal funding should become available for the completion of the loop around Birmingham. The second benefit will be the knowledge of where exactly everything will fall. This will allow the city's planning and zoning commission time to start planning for the future commercial development along the Loop before it is a knee-jerk reaction to development.”