Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved an agreement for The Shoppes at District 31 and honored Alabaster City Schools bowling teams during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.

During the meeting, Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield presented proclamations to the Thompson High School women’s bowling team for becoming state champions and the THS men’s bowling team for receiving state runner-up.

“This remarkable accomplishment demonstrates the dedication, hard work and exceptional athletic ability of the players, coaches and support staff,” Brakefield said in his proclamations.

The mayor also delivered additional proclamations declaring Feb. 24, 2025 as Arbor Day and March 2025 as Amyloidosis Awareness Month.

In other news, the Alabaster City Council approved an ordinance related to the burning of trees and brush within the city.

According to the ordinance, the section’s purpose is to establish regulations for the controlled burning of onsite debris during land development and clearing, limiting permissible burning methods to air curtain destructors and box burners to minimize environmental and public health impacts

“This goes to the contractors that are building some of these neighborhoods and things, so we wanted to cut down on the burning” Council member Rick Ellis said.

In addition to a permit, applicants must also provide a site plan, operational details and proof of compliance with state and federal regulations.

The City Council also approved an amendment to the city’s agreement to The Shoppes at District 31 development agreement.

“This basically gives him (Keith Owens, CEO and managing partner of Alumni Properties) an opportunity to get financing faster and it also gives him an opportunity to get construction going faster,” Ellis said. “So, hopefully we’ll see something coming out of the ground fairly soon.”

The Shoppes at District 31 is planned to be on U.S. 31, located just off the Interstate 65 at Exit 238. Construction on the Shoppes at District 31 is currently underway with a planned opening for fall 2025.

Several tenants for The Shoppes at District 31 have been announced, including Chipotle, CAVA, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Nothing Bundt Cakes and First Watch.

In other news, the Alabaster City Council approved the following:

• An ordinance authorizing a 10-year renewed franchise agreement with Spire Alabama, Inc.
• A resolution fixing costs for the abatement of 1305 Navajo Trail
• The demolition of a structure at 373 Simmsville Road
• The declaration of various items as surplus, including a monitor, cabinet and hanging bag display from the library and a 2016 Ford Edge from the building department
• An agreement with Emma Gilbert Art for a mural art project at Patriots Park in an amount not to exceed $18,750

The next regularly scheduled Alabaster City Council meeting will take place on Monday, March 10 with a work session prior on Thursday, March 6.