City Council denies appeal for proposed automated car wash on University Boulevard

The Birmingham City Council denied an appeal on March 4 from LIV Development LLC asking the city to process a building-permit application for an automated car wash at 2310–2316 Eighth Avenue South (University Boulevard). The developer’s attorney argued the application was filed after an earlier moratorium had ended and before a later moratorium was adopted; council members and city traffic staff said safety, congestion and upcoming rezoning made the site unsuitable.

The appeal asked the council to allow the developer’s application to proceed through the normal permitting and review process. Attorney Michael J. Douglas told the council the application was filed on Dec. 18, 2024, after what he said was the expiration of an earlier moratorium and before a subsequent moratorium was put in place. Douglas also cited Alabama Code §11-52-77 and a recent court order by Judge Huie to argue the city failed to give required public notice before adopting the newer moratorium.

City zoning staff told the council the property is currently zoned B-2 (general commercial) but lies within a corridor the city’s framework plan designates as mixed-use high, where automated car washes would not be permitted under the forthcoming rezoning. Kim Spurl, the city’s zoning administrator, said automated car washes are “no longer permitted in our mixed use districts” and described changes being proposed to limit such uses where they adjoin residential districts.

Birmingham Department of Transportation (BDOT) traffic engineer Forrest Johnson urged the council to deny the appeal on safety and traffic-flow grounds. “University Boulevard in this area already sees an average daily traffic volume exceeding 27,000 automobiles,” Johnson said, and added that additional driveway cuts and auto-oriented businesses would “introduce additional conflict points for motorists and pedestrians” and “impact the level of service of one of our most important urban roadways.” He said BDOT attempted to relocate vehicle access to an alley but was constrained by fire-access needs and the applicant’s assertion that frontage access was needed for the business.

Neighborhood representatives and residents who spoke at the public hearing opposed the proposal on similar grounds. Paul Godby, president of the Southside Neighborhood Association, told the council he has observed crashes at nearby intersections and said a car wash at that location would be “too dangerous.”

Council members cited traffic safety, pedestrian concerns, proximity to large medical employers and recent and planned redevelopment along the corridor in explaining their votes. Multiple council members noted an existing Take 5 car wash nearby and said they expect increased pedestrian and transit demand as UAB-related development advances.

After deliberation, a motion to deny the appeal was offered and carried. The council recorded the appeal as denied; the city will not advance the applicant’s building-permit review for the proposed automated car wash at that site.

Votes and next steps: The council voted on the motion to deny the appeal; the motion passed and the appeal was denied. City staff indicated that if the applicant wishes to pursue other sites or reapply under the new zoning rules, it must follow the city’s permitting and zoning procedures.