Hoover Council approves Riverchase sewer agreement, prompting public concern over private‑property repairs and transparency

The Hoover City Council voted to approve a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with private parties to address failing sewer and stormwater infrastructure in the Riverchase/Route 31 area, a matter that has been under litigation since 2022.

The resolution (listed on the agenda as Resolution 8443‑25) names Treya Riverchase Village LLC, Regina Investment Corp., Panda Express Inc., Walgreens Company, Riverchase Lorna LP, and several insurers among the parties with which the city will execute the agreement. A council member explained that the city had been litigating the matter since 2022 and that continuing litigation could take another two years; that member said the city had agreed to pay up to $4 million to resolve and repair the immediate public‑safety risks, though the original estimate was $2.5 million and the final figure remains subject to change pending subsurface investigation.

The vote came after an extended public comment period in which residents repeatedly urged greater transparency and accused the city of using public funds to repair drainage on private property. “What you guys aren't necessarily telling the public here is... this is $4,000,000 worth of sewer repairs on private property,” said resident Ken King. Other residents, including Katie Thomas and Pete DeFranco, urged the council to hold developers accountable for stormwater infrastructure and to explain why decisions made during site redevelopment did not prevent the current failures.

Supporters of approving the agreement framed the decision as a response to an immediate safety hazard. The council member who spoke in favor said the location posed an “incredibly dangerous situation” for people traveling the highway and argued that delaying a repair for continued litigation would prolong the public safety risk.

Several commenters linked the sewer work to earlier development incentives and litigation history involving the Riverwalk/Riverchase area. Some speakers raised questions about stormwater waivers issued during development, earlier engineering reports and lost opportunities to require permanent post‑construction stormwater management during permitting. Several public speakers also urged the council to fully restore $17 million previously set aside for a performing arts center (the “PAC”) that had been reallocated earlier to address capital needs; council members said the PAC fund would be made whole.

The motion carried by voice vote. The council did not record a formal roll‑call tally in the public record at the time of the vote.

Ending

Council members said they would provide additional documentation and follow‑up where feasible; several residents requested a more detailed public accounting of litigation costs, prior waivers and a timeline explaining how the city arrived at the settlement and repair plan.