Mountain Brook could limit heavy construction hours after neighbors raise concerns

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. (WBMA) — Mountain Brook city leaders will consider tighter restrictions on heavy construction in residential neighborhoods Monday after residents near an Overton Road construction site complained of months of disruptive work, heavy truck traffic and concerns about the site's condition.

The Mountain Brook City Council is scheduled to discuss construction hours during its pre-meeting Monday evening. The council packet includes a proposed ordinance that would limit grading, site work and the use of heavy machinery on residentially zoned property to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The proposed restrictions specifically include equipment such as dump trucks, compactors and tractors.

Other construction work would be allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The proposed ordinance would prohibit construction on Sundays and on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The city manager could grant temporary exceptions for good cause following a written request.

The proposal comes after complaints from residents near a construction site on Overton Road adjacent to Knollwood.

In a July 27 email included in the council packet, resident Brandon Demyan asked city leaders to consider narrower hours for heavy grading, site work and dump-truck operations on residential properties.

Demyan wrote that residents had experienced “multiple months of living through house shaking construction” six or more days a week. He also questioned why heavy construction equipment could operate during hours when some types of commercial lawn equipment could not.

The resident raised concerns beyond noise.

Demyan wrote that the site still needed to be stabilized and have drainage issues addressed. He also said earlier work involved more than 1,000 dump-truck loads and described traffic being stopped during the morning school commute as “haphazard and dangerous.” Those assertions are contained in the resident's email; the council packet does not independently verify them.

Demyan argued that tighter restrictions could help Mountain Brook balance residential quality of life with development, particularly as construction moves onto more difficult parcels.

The packet also includes a comparison prepared in 2023 showing Mountain Brook's construction-hour rules alongside several neighboring municipalities. Because that comparison is several years old, current regulations in those cities would need to be independently verified before making a present-day comparison.

Monday's discussion could provide more information about the Overton Road project that prompted the complaints, including whether the city has documented drainage, erosion, traffic or other problems at the site.

It could also clarify whether council members support the proposed 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. restriction for heavy residential construction and whether they believe the change should apply citywide.

The Mountain Brook City Council pre-meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Mountain Brook could limit heavy construction hours after neighbors raise concerns

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