Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING



September 18, 2002



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

2002 in the Council Chambers of the Plaza Level of the Government Center.



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Ralph King, Rick McKnight, Derrick Shields,

Shep Mullin, Sharon Jamison, Berry Henderson and Mike Corradino.



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



Commissioners Absent: Arline Kitchen and Bradford Dodds.



Others Present: Rhonda Walters, Carl Hopp, M. E. Stillwell, and Ronnie and

Kathy Watley.





Chairperson King called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. He stated that

Commissioner Mullin would be voting in place of Commissioner Dodds and that

Commissioner Shields would be voting in place of Commissioner Kitchen.

Chairperson King asked for a motion on the September 4, 2002 meeting minutes to

be accepted. Commissioner Shields made a motion to approve the minutes and

Commissioner Jamison seconded the motion. The minutes were approved

unanimously. Chairperson King explained the rezoning process.





I. REZONING CASE



ZC0208-3: A request to rezone property located in North Highlands / Beallwood

(Habitat for Humanity). The current zoning is R-4 (High Density Residential) /

C-3 (General Commercial) Districts. The proposed zoning is R-3A (Medium

Density Residential) / R-3 (Medium Density Residential) Districts. The property

is to be used for single family residential.



Habitat for Humanity, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson presented the Planning Division?s Finding of Facts. For the

North Highlands area: 313, 316, 317 & 319 24th Street, 307 26th Street, and

2600, 2606 & 2608 3rd Avenue. For Beallwood: 5125 13th Avenue. The North

Highlands properties are zoned R-4; they are requesting it to be rezoned to

R-3A. The Beallwood property is zoned C-3 and they want to rezone it to R-3.

He stated that the Comprehensive Plan P. D. 5 shows Medium Density Residential

for the North Highlands Area and Low Density Residential for Beallwood. He

stated that the request does not address the policy statements. He stated they

are compatible with existing land uses. The properties are served by all city

services. He also stated that the properties do 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. Mr. Johnson

stated that the request does not constitute spot zoning. He also stated that

the report from Transportation Planning states that the request will not have a

negative impact on the transportation network. He reported that it must meet

the Codes and Regulations of the City of Columbus Consolidated Government for

residential usage. No special conditions are needed. He stated that he did

receive a letter from Ronnie and Kathy Watley opposing the request for 5125

13th Avenue in Beallwood. It was received after PAC packets were sent out.

The letter was read to the PAC members.



Carl Hopp, representing the Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity (CAHFH), stated

that Carol Steel, who passed away a few weeks ago, donated the Beallwood

property to CAHFH. It was her wish that the property be converted to

residential usage after CAHFH received it. He stated that the house would be

demolished and a new single-family residence would be built on the site.

Ronnie and Kathy Watley stated that they opposed the rezoning because they own

property in this area and want it to remain commercial. They stated that a

zoning change would hurt their property value.



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

Shields made a motion to approve the request based on the fact that it is

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is compatible with existing land

uses, it is served by city water and sanitary sewer, and it does not constitute

spot zoning. Commissioner McKnight seconded the motion. The vote was carried

unanimously for approval.



NEW BUSINESS



1. There will be two cases on October 2, and one case is for the

Planning Division.

2. There will not be a meeting on November 6, it will be held on

November 7. The City needs the Council Chambers for another meeting.

3. Attendance: The CityCouncil passed a new rule regarding all boards

in the City. The resolution from 1972 stated that it would be at the

discretion of the Chairman of each Board to have those people removed from the

board who miss three consecutive unexcused absences. Council changed the

resolution and created a new one which states that if there are three unexcused

absences over a twelve-month period (the word consecutive was taken out) a

member can be removed. There is no definition of ?unexcused.? The members

voted to let this new rule start in the new year. Forty-eight hours notice

should be given if a commissioner cannot attend themeeting.

4. Commissioners held a lively discussion on the events of Monday night,

September 16, 2002 (Comprehensive Plan meeting at Midland Middle School).



ADJOURNMENT



Chairperson King adjourned the meeting at 10:50 a.m.









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Ralph King, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator