Irondale mayor outlines blasting plans, free pre‑blast surveys and safeguards for planned Costco site

Mayor James Douglas Stewart Jr. of Irondale told a neighborhood meeting that the city and Costco are nearing a closing related to the retailer’s planned site and that site preparation could begin in March. The mayor said the city is still in due diligence but expects contractors to begin notifying residents 14–30 days before work starts.

The mayor, speaking to roughly the Bainbridge Trace audience, said pre‑blast surveys will be provided free by the contractor and encouraged residents to accept them: “Accept your free pre‑blast survey. It’s your proof if damages occur,” he said. He described the outreach effort — the city mailed notices well beyond the state minimum and the homeowners association said it will hand‑deliver survey forms where requested.

Why it matters: Residents asked how far survey coverage extends, how blasting will be timed, who to call if damage occurs and how stormwater will be managed. Those questions matter because the project will remove large quantities of rock and soil and take more than a year of site work, and neighbors want clarity about monitoring, liability and notification.

What the city said: Stewart described local permit safeguards the city has added beyond state minimums. He said seismic monitoring will be performed by a third party (not the blasting contractor), reports will go to the fire marshal, and the city’s interim permit prohibits weekend blasting. He said the city requires blasting contractors to carry liability insurance of at least $500,000 and a $100,000 performance bond and that the city can stop work within 24 hours if permit conditions are violated.

Schedule and scope: At the meeting the mayor estimated roughly 200–400 blasts across about 12–15 months and said blasting would be allowed Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. He also described an outreach window tied to contractor selection: once a contractor is named, residents should receive 14–30 days’ notice before blasting begins and the contractor will perform pre‑blast surveys at each participating residence.

Survey eligibility and monitoring: The mayor said state regulations often measure survey coverage from a standard center point (commonly 500 feet), but the city mailed notices to addresses up to 2,650 feet from the anticipated blast zone to be cautious. He also said some bidders cited a 1,500‑foot radius during preliminary discussions; the final survey zone will depend on how the contractor identifies the blast center. Seismic monitoring devices will be placed at strategic locations and the city will work with the blasting company to consider residents’ requests for seismograph locations.

Traffic, buffers and environmental concerns: Residents asked whether a new road would connect the store to Bainbridge Trace (the mayor said no), and whether a vegetated buffer would be put under covenant (the mayor said the city has no plans to develop the 18‑acre buffer now but would not place a covenant that binds future owners). The mayor also addressed stormwater, saying Costco must submit stormwater plans to Jefferson County and that county permits and on‑site detention will be required to manage runoff.

Contact points and next steps: Mayor Stewart said the city has provided a community liaison phone number on the handout and that the fire marshal (identified in the meeting as Brad Doss) will be the contact for blasting issues. He also urged residents to use the city app and TextMyGov for updates and noted that the project’s preliminary plat, final plat and special‑use application will appear before Planning & Zoning next week as public documents.

Residents’ concerns: Homeowners at the meeting raised questions about which addresses would be eligible for surveys, the timing and content of the surveys, insurance adequacy, where seismographs would be placed and potential stormwater impacts. The Bainbridge Trace Homeowners Association said it will go door‑to‑door with survey forms for its subdivision.

What remains unresolved: Contractor selection and final details — including the blasting contractor, the final survey radius and the precise blasting schedule — had not been determined by the meeting. The mayor said those details will be provided to residents once contractors are selected and the city and corporate closings are complete.

The meeting concluded with the mayor thanking attendees and reminding them to contact the designated liaison and the fire marshal with questions.