Council approves right-of-way vacation and waives $105,365 fee to keep Evans Meat expanding in Birmingham

Birmingham City Council on Jan. 7 approved a right-of-way vacation that clears remnant public roadway near 2828 Messer Airport Highway and waived the $105,365.33 right-of-way vacation fee so Evans Meat LLC can consolidate parcels for a new facility and upgraded truck circulation.

Roger Law of the city’s subdivision planning staff said the vacation will allow the owner to consolidate land now interrupted by a gravel 29th Street stub and a partial Sixth Avenue in order to reorient loading bays so trucks will use internal circulation rather than backing onto Messer Airport Highway. Law noted prior approvals from the subdivision committee and Community Development Committee and explained the fee-waiver request before the council.

Attorney Randall Miner and Evans Meat representatives explained the company’s operational reasons: the new facility supports roughly 139 retained jobs and plans to add about 20 new positions; Evans Meats uses a fleet of smaller (non-18-wheeler) delivery trucks and needed safe truck maneuvering that would not rely on Messer’s traffic lanes. The applicant’s team told council that some on-site stormwater detention currently occupies portions of the right-of-way and that redesign and paving work in the right-of-way could total several hundred thousand dollars.

Council members discussed how vacated areas will be conveyed; staff said adjoining owners executed quitclaim deeds so the portion could be consolidated to Evans Meat as part of the application. The council approved both the vacation and the fee waiver by voice vote.