Council adopts Eastern Area rezoning after public hearing amid contamination, noise and industrial‑use concerns

The Birmingham City Council voted April 21 to adopt an ordinance (ZAC2025‑15) that redraws zoning district boundaries across the city’s Eastern Area, including East Birmingham, Woodlawn, Eastlake and Airport Hills. City planners said the rezoning aligns parcel zoning with the city’s comprehensive plan, downzones abandoned heavy‑industrial sites, expands mixed‑use and establishes an 'urban neighborhood' district intended for higher-density, transit‑oriented development.

Planning staff Kim Spruill and principal planner Michael Ward told the council the process included five community meetings beginning in August 2024, a planning commission recommendation and a planning-and‑zoning committee recommendation. Staff emphasized that previously adopted parcel‑level conditions ('queue conditions') remain in effect and that property owners within 500…