*Please sign this petition & submit your personal stories HERE. These stories will remain anonymous and will be attached to the petition when handed to Vestavia Leadership.

To:
Vestavia City Leadership, Mountain Brook City Leadership, and Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA)

From:
The Residents of East Street, Hillway Drive, North Cahaba Drive, and the Surrounding Neighborhoods

Date: February, 2025

Background & Purpose

For many years, East Street, Hillway Drive, North Cahaba Drive, and the surrounding neighborhoods have endured hazardous levels of traffic, noise, and other quality-of-life issues stemming from Mountain Brook’s land usage and BUSA activities at Rathmell Park. Despite multiple attempts by residents to seek relief through direct communication, petitions, and requests for assistance, Vestavia City Leadership has shown limited interest and taken little to no meaningful action. Instead, City Leadership has expressed a desire to protect the interests of BUSA and Mountain Brook—often citing personal connections and other city initiatives they deem more important—over the safety and well-being of their own citizens.

A Note on the Sidewalk Investment:

Vestavia City Leadership frequently references the construction of a sidewalk at their own expense as evidence of their efforts. While we acknowledge and appreciate that this infrastructure has modestly increased pedestrian safety and improved walkability, it has not addressed core issues such as excessive traffic volume, large vehicle use, congestion, noise disturbances, and lack of accountability from Mountain Brook and BUSA. Sidewalks alone cannot solve traffic overloads or restore quality of life. More comprehensive, enforceable solutions are essential.

Reaffirming Reasonableness & Mutual Benefit:

This petition does not seek to harm the BUSA program or obstruct positive inter-city relationships. We value healthy youth activities and want all stakeholders—residents, visitors, and program participants—to benefit from a safer, more predictable environment. Our requests simply ensure that no single community bears an unfair burden.

Clear Justification for Each Measure:

Every timeline, fine, and requirement in this petition is a direct and proportional response to documented issues that remain unresolved. Speed humps, traffic chokers, and tolls address long-ignored speeding and congestion problems. Shuttle requirements and scheduling limits reduce surges in traffic that sidewalks alone cannot manage. The alternative access route and infrastructure deadlines prevent indefinite delays and compel meaningful, lasting solutions.

Previous Inaction and Its Consequences:

These measures follow years of unheeded pleas and minimal corrective action. While the sidewalk helped incrementally, it left the fundamental problems unchanged. The guidelines and accountability measures outlined below are a reasoned escalation, necessary only because cooperation and good faith efforts were not reciprocated.

 
Proposed Terms & Agreements (Part A)

A1. Reduced Activity Scheduling and Park Hours for BUSA:

• BUSA may operate only two (2) active 2.5-month periods each year.
• During each active period, BUSA shall designate at least three (3) “relief days” per week with no scheduled activities, reducing traffic surges beyond what a sidewalk can mitigate.
• The park must be fully closed by 8:30 PM daily during active periods. No BUSA-related vehicle activity is permitted on Vestavia roads after 8:30 PM. Each violation results in a $2,500 fine payable to Vestavia, dedicated exclusively to neighborhood improvements and allocated with neighborhood approval.

A2. Shuttle & Off-Site Drop-Off Services and Parking Limitations:

• BUSA shall provide shuttle services from an off-site location, eliminating direct drop-offs and preventing heavy on-street parking congestion.
• Shuttles must not exceed 75 decibels, must have halogen headlights (no LED), and seat no more than 30 individuals.
• Parents who stay may park only in designated areas, capped at 50 total vehicles. The 600 vehicle-per-day threshold still applies.

A3. Traffic Limitations, Vehicle Restrictions, and Spot AI Enforcement:

• Total traffic on East Street shall not exceed 600 vehicles per day, including neighborhood traffic, preventing spillover onto Hillway Drive, North Cahaba Drive, and nearby areas.
• Traffic counts and compliance monitoring will be done at both the park entrance and the East Street entrance via Spot AI cameras.
• No vehicles over Class 5 shall access the park area.
• Multiple triple speed humps and traffic chokers will be installed on East Street, Hillway Drive, and North Cahaba Drive to address speeding ignored by previous efforts.
• Spot AI reports must be presented at neighborhood meetings and included in public releases, ensuring transparency and accountability.

A4. Noise Considerations (Shooting Range Closure and Affected Roads):

• The outdoor shooting range on Mountain Brook’s property shall be closed permanently.
• No similar noise-generating facilities may be established affecting East Street, Hillway Drive, North Cahaba Drive, and surrounding neighborhoods.

A5. Infrastructure Investments and Alternative Access Routes:

• Mountain Brook and BUSA shall pursue and fully fund an alternative access route originating from a Mountain Brook street, not increasing downstream Vestavia neighborhood traffic by more than 100 vehicles/day.
• No Vestavia taxpayer funds will be used.
• All non-infrastructure terms must be fully implemented by September 1, 2025.
• The alternative access route infrastructure project (access road only) may be completed by December 20, 2026. For every 3-month delay beyond this date, Mountain Brook pays Vestavia City a $150,000 fine. All such fines go to neighborhood improvements with community approval.
• Alternatively, Mountain Brook may sell the park to Vestavia or a housing developer who agrees to single-family homes similar to those on these roads. Such a sale must be approved by a 66% neighborhood vote (at least 30 households), and the developer must sign an agreed-upon plan.

A6. Mailbox Replacement and Land Purchase Clause:

• Mailboxes damaged by Mountain Brook city vehicles or BUSA-related traffic must be replaced within fifteen (15) business days, with resident approval, not exceeding the original value.
• If Vestavia purchases Rathmell Park/surrounding land, it will maintain traffic below 400 vehicles/day and adhere to Part A restrictions as Mountain Brook’s successor. Any development or sale requires a 66% neighborhood vote.

A7. Enforcement and Police Presence:

• Vestavia Police shall patrol East Street, Hillway Drive, and North Cahaba Drive at least two (2) out of every four (4) active BUSA days and one (1) additional day every two weeks, ensuring previously unenforced rules are finally upheld.

A8. Binding Agreements, Fines, Non-Renewal Clauses, and Payment Terms:

• Mountain Brook must sign a binding agreement that if terms are unmet, it shall not renew its BUSA lease or must cease BUSA activities within 12 months.
• BUSA shall sign an agreement committing to all these terms.
• Each Mountain Brook city vehicle Class 5+ violation or speeding incurs a $2,000 fee.
• Other violations by Mountain Brook or BUSA incur a $5,000 per-day fine. If violations exceed 90 consecutive days or 100 days in 365 days, a $200,000 penalty applies ($50k by BUSA, $150k by Mountain Brook). All fines support neighborhood improvements with community approval.

A9. Ongoing Community Feedback, Public Reporting & Meeting Schedule:

• A community liaison group, chosen by the petition’s manager, will meet regularly with officials and BUSA reps to review data and Spot AI reports.
• All community notes and data will be publicly shared via VestaviaVoice.com. If it ceases, a new platform is chosen within 20 days by simple majority (51%).
• Meetings and reports occur every six (6) months, four (4) weeks after the most recent BUSA activity day ends. If BUSA no longer resides at Rathmell Park, these occur every March and September, maintaining transparency and oversight.

Timeline for Agreement and Implementation

Agreement Deadline:
All Part A terms must be agreed upon by April 15, 2025. If not, Part B measures commence April 16, 2025.

Funding Allocation & General Implementation:
Vestavia begins allocating funds for Parts A and B by July 31, 2025.
Non-infrastructure terms must be implemented by September 1, 2025.

Infrastructure (Access Road) Deadline:
The access road must be completed by February 28, 2026. Delays trigger additional fines, ensuring no indefinite postponement.
 
Contingent Measures (Part B)

If no agreement is reached by April 1, 2025, or if requirements aren’t met, stricter measures take effect immediately—restricted access, tolls, higher fines, and potential legal actions. These are last-resort steps, necessary only because prior, more cooperative attempts failed.

 
Accountability of Vestavia City Leadership

If Vestavia Leadership fails to represent their citizens’ best interests, they agree to step down within 90 days of notice, ensuring accountability and deterring favoritism.

 
Community Approval & Implementation Notes

• Voting Threshold for Changes to Part A:
  Major changes require 66% approval from at least 50 households. Clerical or non-substantive changes may be made by the petition’s manager without a vote.

By signing this petition, I affirm my support for these reasonable, clearly justified measures and my desire for a long-term, equitable solution that prioritizes safety, quality of life, property values, and well-being for East Street, Hillway Drive, North Cahaba Drive, and surrounding neighborhoods. These measures go beyond a single sidewalk, ensuring lasting improvements and accountability for all stakeholders.