Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING



June 18, 2003



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, June 18, 2003

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



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Brad Dodds, Vice Chairperson Rick McKnight,

Shep Mullin, Derrick Shields, Sharon Jamison, Michael Corradino, Karl Douglass,

and Bob Crane.



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



Commissioners Absent: Berry Henderson



Others Present: David Fox, Jerry Belobraydic, Terry Chappell, Ritchie White,

Chad Hargett, Lawrence Cheney, Reba Cheney, Edith West, James West, Walter

Snider, III, Genevieve Green, Otis Scarborough, Lucy Jones, Bill Jones, and

David Jacobs.





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

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



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

June 4, 2003 minutes to be accepted. Commissioner Corradino requested a change

in the minutes. Vice Chairman McKnight made a motion to accept the minutes.as

amended. Commissioner Shields seconded the motion. The minutes were approved

unanimously.



Chairperson Dodds stated that Commissioner Mullin would vote for Commissioner

Henderson.



III. TABLED CASES:



1.) ZC0305-1: A request to rezone the property located at 2744 Warm Springs

Road. The current zoning is R-1A (Low Density Residential) District. The

proposed zoning is A-O (Apartment/Office) District. The property is to be used

for a physician?s office with parking.





Alan Rothchild, Jr., Applicant



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

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 8), 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 the 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. Traffic Engineering reports that driveways must

conform to commercial standards and there will be no significant impact on

surrounding properties or streets. Special conditions are needed: 1.) all

lighting shall be directed internally using deflector shields, 2) no external

trash dumpsters / shall be permitted along the property bordered by the R-1A

zoning district, 3.) any external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be

visually obstructed by a structure aesthetically similar to the proposed

development, and 4.) screening for air conditioners, refrigeration units, and

heat pumps shall be required for all development on the property. There were

comments from adjoining property owners.



Jerry Belobraydic, Administrator of Columbus Cardiology Associates, came to the

podium.. He stated that the practice is growing and they will be adding 6 new

physicians. The church will remodeled to accommodate the growth.



Chairperson Dodds opened the floor for discussion and a motion. Vice

Chairperson McKnight made a motion to conditionally approve this rezoning

application based on the fact that although it is not consistent with the

Comprehensive Plan, it is compatible with existing land uses and it will not

have a negative impact on the transportation network. The recommended special

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

shields, 2) no external trash dumpsters / shall be permitted along the property

bordered by the R-1A zoning district, 3.) any external trash dumpsters /

compactors shall be visually obstructed by a structure aesthetically similar to

the proposed development, and 4.) screening for air conditioners, refrigeration

units, and heat pumps shall be required for all development on the property.

Commissioner Jamison seconded the motion. The case was approved unanimously.



2.) ZC0305-2: A request to rezone the properties located at 5151 and 5163

McCaghren Drive. The current zoning is R-1 (Low Density Residential) District.

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

is to be used for single family residential.



Perry Carlin, Applicant



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

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 3), which shows Low Density

Residential for this area. It is consistent with policy statements,

Residential Development policy statements #2 and #3. It is compatible with

existing land uses. It is served by public water, sanitary sewer, and all City

services. The property does lie within the studied floodplain and floodway

area. Over half of the proposed lot lies within the floodplain. This lot was

platted as a single lot and should not be subdivided to accommodate another

lot, which would require filling in the floodplain. 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 residential usage. No special conditions

are needed. There were no comments from adjoining property owners.



Mr. Perry Carlin, owner of the property, came to the podium. He stated he

moved to the property in 1981. He stated he bought another home north of the

property. He has decided to rezone this property to build homes on smaller

lots, which is what is in the area already.



Mr. David Fox, representing Pinnacle Homes, came to the podium. His company

has a contract to buy the property contingent on rezoning. He stated that they

plan to put houses on 50 feet wide lots along McCaghren Drive.



Commissioner Corradino asked for clarification on the comments from the

Department of Engineering. After much discussion, Mr. Johnson stated that

development is allowed in the floodplain (once requirements are met), but

Assistant Director of Engineering Donna Newman felt that any more disturbance

of the creek would be detrimental to the creek?s system.



Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop stated that he understood Mrs. Newman?s

intent but suggested that the case be tabled so she could personally present

her reasoning for denial.

Mr. Carlin and Mr. Fox agreed to table the case.



Chairperson Dodds entertained a motion. Commissioner Shields made a motion to

table the case until July 16, 2003. Commissioner Jamison seconded the motion.

The motion was passed unanimously.



IV. REZONING CASES:



3). ZC0305-3: A request to rezone the properties located at the end of

Creekland Drive (4 acres); Double Churches Road across from Daisy Street (8.2

acres); and northeast of Double Churches Road on Whitesville Road (4 acres.)

The current zoning is R-1 (Low Density Residential) District. The proposed

zonings are R-1A (Low Density Residential) District, R-3A (Medium Density

Residential) District and A-0 (Apartment/Office). The properties are to be

used for residential, single family attached and office/multi-family.



Charles Land, Applicant



This case was tabled at the request of the applicant, Charles Land,

until July 16, 2003.





4.) ZC0305-4: A request to rezone the properties located at 8242 Whitesville

Road (4 acres) and 2.56 acres on the south east corner of Whitesville Road and

Williams Road. The current zoning is A-1 (Agricultural District) District.

The proposed zoning is C-3 (General Commercial) District. The property is to

be used for retail shopping center / free-standing retail.



George C. Woodruff Co., Applicant



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

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 2), which shows General

Commercial for this area. It is consistent with policy statements, Commercial

Development policy statement #3. 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 the 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. Deputy City

Manager Richard Bishop will address the traffic situation concerning this

zoning case. Special conditions are needed: 1) all lighting shall be directed

internally using deflector shields, and 2) screening for trash dumpsters /

compactors, air conditioners, refrigeration units, and heat pumps shall be

required for all development on the property. There were comments from

adjoining property owners in opposition to this case.



Chairperson Dodds stated that Commissioner Corradino would abstain from voting

on this case; Commissioner Crane would vote in his place.



Mr. Otis Scarborough, representing the Woodruff Company, came to the podium.

He stated that they planned to master plan the area and that the 6 acres

petitioned for rezoning would become a part of existing C-3 property

surrounding the aforementioned acreage. He stated that by owning all the

property up to Williams Way would give them development control over the area,

which would allow them to control access, design, and types of business. He

stated that if the three parcels up for rezoning were handled individually,

then you could see numerous curb-cuts (without connectivity) along Whitesville

Road.



Mr. Bishop returned to the podium to give a report on the traffic situation.

He stated that consultants were hired to assess the overall impact of future

development along the Whitesville Road corridor, from Double Churches Road to

Williams Road. He stated that if each case were handled individually, then

each would have minimal impact on the system. However, he thought it was best

to assess the entire area since five zoning cases were on-going at the same

time in this area. He advised that improvements would need to be made, with a

signal at Williams Road and Whitesville Road being the first step. He also

stated that all parties involved were interested in working together to address

the situation.



Ritchie White, 7885 Whitesville Road, came to the podium to speak in

opposition. He stated that he was concerned about additional traffic.



After a brief discussion, Chairperson Dodds entertained a motion. Commissioner

Shields made a motion to conditionally approve this rezoning case based on the

fact that it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is compatible with

existing land-uses, and it does not constitute spot zoning. The recommended

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

shields, and 2) screening for trash dumpsters / compactors, air conditioners,

refrigeration units, and heat pumps shall be required for all development on

the property. Commissioner Douglass seconded. The case was conditionally

approved unanimously.





This case was tabled until July 16, 2003 because the applicant did not attend

the meeting.





IV. NEW BUSINESS



Commissioner Crane and Vice Chairperson McKnight will not attend the meeting on

July 16, 2003.



V. OLD BUSINESS



None.



VI. ADJOURNMENT



Chairperson Dodds adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m.





___________________________________ ___________________________________

Bradford Dodds, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator