The Birmingham City Council will conduct a public hearing Jan. 14 to discuss the city’s moratorium on automated car washes in the city limits.

The council passed the moratorium March 5 and extended it in August. The measure has been challenged by at least one group planning a car wash in the Red Mountain neighborhood.

The public hearing will take place during the City Council meeting at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall.

“My concern with all of this has always been focused on our residents. We’ve seen a trend of these businesses wanting to open in high traffic corridors, ones that we are actively trying to make safer for pedestrians and other modes of transportation besides cars,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said. “What we are trying to do now is fix that and ensure these businesses only operate in areas that do not pose a problem to residents or pedestrians and are in line with current land use plans for the city.”