Birmingham officials outline scope, public engagement plan for comprehensive zoning ordinance update

Leah Plazinski, a city planner for Birmingham City, told a joint meeting of the Birmingham City Commission and the Planning Board on Sept. 29 that the city has opened a request for proposals for a comprehensive zoning ordinance update and expects to hire a consultant to lead a seven-step process that includes a diagnostic review, public engagement, drafting revisions, and updating the zoning map.

The zoning ordinance update is funded in the current city budget and the RFP opened Sept. 2; Plazinski said the RFP closes Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. She described the consultant’s scope as including refining scope and public engagement strategies with staff, producing a diagnostic report that scrutinizes the current ordinance line-by-line, drafting a major revision (not a wholesale restart), updating the official zoning map where necessary, and proposing administrative and procedural updates to permitting and application processes.

The Planning Board and commission said they want an outcome that prioritizes clarity and ease of use for residents, better visuals, and stronger public education. Scott Klein, chair of the Planning Board, praised staff work on the RFP and said, “I think staff did an excellent job pulling this together. I'm extremely happy with the RFP as has has been published.” Janelle Wilco Boyce, a Planning Board member, urged plain-language outreach: “The first and most important step would be the most boiled down simplest explanation about how it works,” she said, describing the need to explain basic zoning terms so residents can participate effectively.

Planning Board members emphasized that the update should be comprehensive rather than piecemeal, and said consultants should review overlays and multiple area plans to harmonize inconsistent language. Brian Williams, a Planning Board member, urged ongoing public engagement and closer interaction between the Planning Board and the City Commission as the draft moves toward adoption. Commissioners and board members discussed benchmarks and interim deliverables; several suggested quarterly updates to the commission, and staff said there would be interim deliverables that could be included in commission packets.

Leah Plazinski and other speakers clarified that the project aims for a major revision but not a complete erasure of existing zoning: Plazinski said, “we are not throwing the baby out with the bath water,” and that most properties may see no change, although some zones might be condensed. The consultant will be expected to ensure consistency with state and federal law and to align the ordinance with the city’s 2040 plan.

Speakers also raised procedural questions about consultant selection. Staff and Planning Board members described a process in which Planning Board members will individually review proposals, the board will likely narrow proposals to a short list (often two or three firms), and then recommend a firm to the commission for final approval. Commissioners stressed transparency to avoid public perception that a vendor was preselected. One commissioner asked staff to ensure the RFP and subsequent materials disclose whether and how consultants use artificial intelligence in their analyses.

Plazinski said the public engagement component will include public meetings, workshops, focus groups and outreach to elected officials and relevant boards. Commissioners suggested using the city’s newsletters and social media, posting FAQs and a glossary, and starting education immediately so the public understands the process and the limits of zoning (for example, that compliant site plans must be approved when they meet ordinance standards).

The meeting closed with no formal ordinance changes or votes on the update itself. A motion to adjourn was made and approved to end the session.