Glass approved for railings and balconies

With more contemporary designs in vogue, there have increasingly been requests for glass to be used for railings, balconies and porches in downtown Birmingham, leading city commissioners to approve its addition to the zoning ordinance at their meeting on Monday, June 24.

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker explained that numerous site plan reviews have come before the city's planning board requesting the use of glass railings, but under current zoning for the city's downtown overlay district, it was not permitted.

“This is one of those things that keeps coming before the planning board as it deals with materials,” she said. “People keep coming up with requests for glass railings on upper floors.”

In requesting to amend the current zoning ordinance, she explained that as for safety, it would still need to meet code requirements, and to questions, she said it would be tempered glass.

Commissioners approved the ordinance request to allow glass as a permitted use, 6-0, with commissioner Andy Harris absent.