Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING



October 1, 2003



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, October 1,

2003 in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Brad Dodds, Shep Mullin, Derrick Shields,

Berry Henderson, Sharon Jamison, Michael Corradino, Karl Douglass and Bob Crane.



Staff Members: Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator, and Tina Trant, Recorder.



Commissioners Absent: Vice Chairperson Rick McKnight.



Others Present: Katheryn A. Gnas, Lance Cutsforth, Bill Dykes, Myrtis Roach,

Jr., Becky Carter, Ollie Tarver, Gwen Blanchard, Maxine Lee, Lonnie Jackson,

Sherman Williams, W. O. Redmond, Kenneth Harrell, and Cecil Blanchard.



I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Dodds called the meeting to order at

10:15 a.m. Chairperson Dodds explained the rezoning process to the audience.

He also stated that Alternate Shep Mullin would vote for Vice Chairperson Rick

McKnight who was absent.



II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chairperson Dodds asked for a motion for the

September 17, 2003 minutes to be accepted. Commissioner Henderson made a

motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Jamison seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved unanimously.





III. REZONING CASES:



1). ZC0306-5: A request to rezone the properties located along the south side

of St. Mary?s Road, south of Northstar Drive. The current zoning is R-2 (Low

Density Residential) District. The proposed zoning is R-3A (Medium Density

Residential) District. The property is to be used as town houses and single

family residential.



Legacy Real Estate Advisors, LLC, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson read the Finding of Facts for this case. This case is not

consistent with the future land-use map of the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 11),

which shows Low Density Residential for this area. Policy Statements are not

addressed. It is compatible with existing land uses. It is served by public

water, sanitary sewer, and all City services. The property does not lie within

a studied floodplain and floodway area. The Engineering Department will need

to approve a drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development Permit. The

request does not constitute spot zoning. It will not have a negative impact on

the transportation network. It must meet the codes and regulations of the City

of Columbus, Consolidated Government for commercial usage. Special conditions

are needed: 1) all lighting shall be directed internally using deflector

shields, 2) any external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be visually

obstructed by a structure that is aesthetically similar to the proposed

development, 3) no external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be permitted

along the property lines bordered by the R-2 zoningdistrict, 4) left turn lanes

shall be required as determined by the City Traffic Engineer, 5) only one

access to the proposed development shall be permitted, 6) a right turn lane on

St. Mary?s Road shall be required as determined by the City Traffic Engineer,

7) ingress and egress of this site shall align with the Northstar Drive

intersection, 8) screening for air conditioners, refrigeration units, and heat

pumps shall be required for all development on the property, 9) no more than

forty townhouses / condominiums shall be permitted on the property subject to

rezoning, 10) the forty townhouses / condominiums shall be located along the

northern and eastern sides of the lake, and 11) the remaining property shall be

developed as single family residential. There were several comments from

adjoining property owners in opposition to this case.



Lance Cutsforth of Legacy Real Estate Advisors, LLC, the applicant, came to the

podium along with Bill Dykes. They initially proposed to rezone this property

to A-O with 450 apartments and a large buffer about 1? years ago. In June they

applied for an R-4 zoning with R-2 development taking place where the buffer

was originally proposed. They have since revised their request from A-O to R-4

to R-3A. They have met with neighbors and discussed what was needed in the

area and most of them want homeowners in the area, not renters. The proposal

now is for 40 townhouses / condominiums and 40 single-family residential

homes. They feel it is the most efficient use of land. He stated that the

cost of the townhouses would be from $80,000 to $100,000. The single-family

houses would be $110,000 to $140,000. Mr. Cutsforth stated the lake would be

left intact for the use of the residents. There will not be any patio homes.



Ted Freeman, owner of the property, came to the podium to explain that he does

not feel right putting in smaller houses next to the larger homes in Quail

Creek and Mt. Vernon Estates. The lots will be 75 feet in size, as opposed to

the required minimum lot width of 60 feet.



Becky Carter, property manager for Huckleberry Hill Apartments, came to the

podium. She stated she is in favor of this development.



Myrtis Roach, Jr., 5317 Eisenhower Avenue, resident of Dawson Estates, came to

the podium. He stated that the residents of all the subdivisions in this area

met with the developers. They are concerned about the traffic flow problem.

There is only one way out to St. Mary?s Road from most of these subdivisions.

If something happens on St. Mary?s Road to block traffic, rescue cannot get

through.



W. O. Redmond, Quail Creek Subdivision, came to the podium. Water pressure and

traffic are his two concerns.



Cecil Blanchard came to the podium and he is concerned about the traffic

problem.



Ollie Tarver, 329 Mays Avenue, came to the podium. She is concerned about the

developers changing their mind about the size of the homes and building smaller

ones.



Commissioner Douglass stated that in the Mobley Road case they didn?t want to

put R-2 next to R-1A and R-1. In this case, we are talking about putting R-3A

next to R-2. He is concerned about setting a precedent.



Commissioner Crane stated that his decision in the Mobley Road case was based

on the attitude of the adjacent property owners.



Chairperson Dodds stated that they didn?t want to give the perception that they

are protecting any particular neighborhood. They want decisions to be

consistent



Kenneth Harrell, 761 Quail Creek Drive, came to the podium, concerned about the

houses that will be built close to his house and the buffer. He is also

concerned about the traffic and the widening of St. Mary?s Road.

.

Chairman Dodds asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Shields made a

motion to conditionally approve this rezoning case based on the fact that

although it is not consistent with the future land-use map of the Comprehensive

Plan, it is compatible with existing land-uses, it is served by water and

sewer, and it does not constitute spot zoning. Special conditions are needed:

1) all lighting shall be directed internally using deflector shields, 2) any

external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be visually obstructed by a

structure that is aesthetically similar to the proposed development, 3) no

external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be permitted along the property

lines bordered by the R-2 zoningdistrict, 4) left turn lanes shall be required

as determined by the City Traffic Engineer, 5) only one access to the proposed

development shall be permitted, 6) a right turn lane on St. Mary?s Road shall

be required as determined by the City Traffic Engineer, 7) ingress and egress

of this site shall align with the Northstar Drive intersection, 8) screening

for air conditioners, refrigeration units, and heat pumps shall be required for

all development on the property, 9) no more than forty townhouses /

condominiums shall be permitted on the property subject to rezoning, 10) the

forty townhouses / condominiums shall be located along the northern and eastern

sides of the lake, and 11) the remaining property shall be developed as single

family residential with the exception of patio homes / zero lot line homes.

Commissioner Jamison seconded the motion. The vote was carried unanimously.





2) ZC0309-2: A request to rezone the property at 2818 8th Street. The current

zoning is R-4 (High Density Residential) District and C-2 (Neighborhood

Shopping) District. The proposed zoning is R-3A (Medium Density Residential)

District and R-3 (Medium Density Residential) District. The property is to be

used for single-family residential.



Planning Division, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson read the Finding of Facts for this case. This case is

consistent with the future land-use map of the Comprehensive Plan (P.D. 8),

which shows Redevelopment Area for this area, and the future land-use map of

the South Lawyers Lane Redevelopment Plan, which shows Single Family

Residential for this area. This project is part of the Hope VI project. It is

consistent with policy statements #1, #2 and #3. It is compatible with

existing land uses. The property is served by public water, sanitary sewer,

and all City services. The property does not lie within a studied floodplain

and floodway area. The Engineering Department will need to approve a drainage

plan prior to issuance of a Site Development Permit. The request does not

constitute spot zoning. It will not have a negative impact on the

transportation network. It must meet Codes and Regulations of the City of

Columbus, Consolidated Government for residential usage. One special condition

is needed: joint-use driveways shall be required as determined by the City

Traffic Engineer. There were no comments from adjoining property owners. It

is proposed for single family residential.



Will Johnson, representing the Planning Division, stated that this is part of

the Hope VI grant that the Columbus Housing Authority (CHA) received earlier

this year. CHA originally planned duplexes for these sites but are now

considering single family residential. The R-3A gives them the flexibility to

build duplexes if it is feasible.



Commissioner Dodds asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass

made a motion to approve the rezoning based on the fact that it is consistent

with the future land-use maps of the Comprehensive Plan and the South Lawyers

Lane Redevelopment Plan, it is consistent with policy statements of the

Comprehensive Plan, it is compatible with existing land-uses, it does not

constitute spot zoning, and it will not have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The special condition is: joint-use driveways shall be

required as determined by the City Traffic Engineer. Commissioner Henderson

seconded the motion. The vote was carried unanimously.





IV. NEW BUSINESS



V. OLD BUSINESS

Mr. Johnson stated that staff would send out e-mail explaining where cases are

in the process and how they are developing. Mr. Johnson asked all

commissioners to make sure we had their correct e-mail address.



VI. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.









___________________________________ ___________________________________



Bradford Dodds, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator