The cost of illegal parking is going up in Montevallo.

The Montevallo City Council voted to increase the cost of parking tickets in town from $15 to $35 Monday night.

Also the council learned about some legal matters regarding proposed apartments and at least one subdivision.

And took steps to acquire more park land.

The City Council was given a heads up by City Attorney Steven R. Sears that Hiliary Henderson/Redwood Development Company Inc. wants to add additional apartment units though he has been denied by the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustments.

The council voted to raise the cost of parking tickets as those on the University of Montevallo campus are already up to $25.

And Councilmember Greg Pendleton said the action would drive student back to parking on campus.

Mayor Sharon Anderson said the increase was approved to encourage people to park in the proper places. She said students from the university do often park on city streets for long periods of time.

According to a letter from attorney William R. Justice to Sears, Henderson was denied permission to continue work on an apartment complex despite holding permits for 32 additional units.

He was issued building permits for 104 units in 1999 based on a development plan showing eight buildings with 132 units.

He completed five building including 72 units.

The letter states Henderson was never given notice the city subsequently placed a 180-day time limit on building permits.

Justice concludes, &8220;I believe the law would prohibit the city from halting Mr. Henderson’s development at this point. Revoking his validly issued building permits would be a &8220;taking&8221; under federal law, subjecting the city to possible liability for monetary damages.&8221;

Sears advised that the city should resist this effort by Henderson.

Henderson also has a hearing before the Planning Commission set for Oct. 20 re rezone his highway land for apartments.

Another attorney Laurie Sharp told the council that she would appear before the Shelby County Commission and the City Council on Oct. 24 to have old subdivision maps vacated for Hidden Forest, formerly Hidden Lakes Estates subdivision.

According to Sharp there cannot be two maps for the same property (the city and the county planning commission have approved maps).

The Shelby County Planning Commission previously approved a map for the land before it came into the city.

She said lots could not be sold until the maps are cleared up.

Sears also reported at a property line needs to be cleared up before the city could sell the old library building.

The council voted to seek six to seven acres from the Aldrich Coal Company, which went out of business in the 1940’s, and from whom the land was dedicated to the public.

The city is seeking the land for possible use as a park.

Henry Emfinger of the Aldrich Coal Mine Museum said the land includes beautiful large trees, a creek and a spring. It is located off County Road 203 and backs up to railroad tracks.

Mayor Sharon Anderson reported that there have been 1,075 visitors to the Aldrich Coal Mine Museum and that it qualifies for signs from the State Highway Department.

The council approved the nominations of Paula Renzi-Callahan to Park and Recreation Board No. 1 and Kristen Bridges to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

And the council acted to continue Carrie Thompson as City Clerk/Treasurer until the end of the council’s current term in October 2008