Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING

December 4, 2002



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, December 4,

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



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Ralph King, Bradford Dodds, Derrick

Shields, Sharon Jamison, Rick McKnight and Michael Corradino.



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



Commissioners Absent: Commissioners Henderson and Kitchen were absent.



Others Present: Lawrence Smith, Robert George, Mary H. Barnette, Jarrell

Hethcox, Margaret Mosley, Kenneth G. Mosley, Sara Lois Thompson, B. J. Welsh,

Burnette Welsh, Betty Brown, Anne Lewis, Anna Gilbert, Dorothy Harrington,

Carol Tongret, Omer Tongret, Jeanne Shiver, Lynn Shiver, W. Brown, B.J.

McIntire, Aileen Mooney, Jane S. Adams, Michelle Brown, Beverly and Jose

Canedo. Arlis Jones, Patsy Dean, Susan Powell, Elizabeth Cheves, James

Brannock, Tom Creamer, Ken Blake, Gladys Perkins, and Pat Farmer.



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

Arline Kitchens is absent and Shep Mullin will vote in her place. Berry

Henderson is also absent and Derrick Shields will vote in his place.



II. Chairperson Dodds asked for a motion for the November 7, 2002 minutes to be

accepted as there were changes made. Commissioner Corradino made a motion to

accept the November 7 minutes. Start here. Chairperson King explained the

rezoning process to the audience.





III. REZONING CASES



ZC0203-7: A request to rezone the property located at 6801 Warm Springs Road

located on the north side of the creek. The current zoning is A-1

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

District. The property is to be used for single family residential.



ZC0203-8: A request to rezone the property located at 6801 Warm Springs Road

located on the south side of the creek. The current zoning is A-1

(Agriculture) District. The proposed zoning is

R-1A (Low Density Residential) District. The property is to be used for

single family residential.





Tiger Creek Development, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson read the Finding of Facts for both cases since they are

identical. They are both consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 3). It

shows low density residential for this area. They are consistent with policy

statements - Residential Development Policy Statement #2. They are compatible

with existing land uses. They are 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. It must meet the Codes and Regulations of the City of

Columbus Consolidated Government for residential usage. The developer will

have to construct public streets to City specifications to handle traffic

within the developed area. Said street network shall tie directly to Warm

Springs Road. Warm Springs Road is an arterial roadway that requires a minimum

spacing of 800 feet or greater between intersections. No special conditions

are needed. There were comments from adjoining property owners. A petition

was submitted by David Ragland that was handed out to the Commissioners at the

beginning of the meeting. Mr. Johnson read the petition.



Chris Meacham came to the podium. Along with David Fox he will be speaking for

the petition for rezoning. This is the third appearance on this property. He

stated he will not go over all the facts since it has been heard before. There

are several areas around this property that show R-2, R-1A, R-3 and C-3. When

this case first came before the Commissioners, it was to be rezoned R-2. The

developers agreed to change it. Now the north section is to be rezoned R-1,

and the south portion will be R-1A. They have modified their development plans

on several occasions to accommodate adjoining property owners in the area. Mr.

Meacham spoke of the creek, greenspace and oversized lots. He states he has

met with the residents of Springbrook Crossing and Mr. Ragland on several

occasions. In the R-1 area the price of the homes will cost more than the

houses in Springbrook Crossing.



David Fox came to the podium. This map is just an artist rendering. The green

space may not be exactly as shown on the map. Driveways and pads for houses

will have to be cleared out. Also some trees will be replanted. There will be

only one entrance to this subdivision. There will be no entrance across from

Springbrook Crossing. 84 homes are the maximum that will be built on these

lots. A buffer is not required. Mr. Fox stated that the lots will be 150 feet

deep. There would be 10 house plans for the R-1 area. The R-1A area would have

6 or 7 plans.



David Ragland, 6909 Warm Springs Road, came to the podium. He was concerned

about his property (five acre lot) that touches two sides of the property to be

rezoned. He states he is concerned about the lot sizes being smaller than what

is discussed. It will be detrimental to his property value if they are

smaller. He states that every time he comes to one of these meetings things

are different, lot sizes, cost of homes on lots. He states the proposed zoning

is not consistent with land use. It is not consistent with the current

Comprehensive Plan.



Commissioner Corradino stated that he thought there was an access easement

that runs through this development that also runs across Mr. Ragland?s

property. Mr. Ragland says he does not want his access easement moved. The

developers want to move it. Mr. Fox stated that he knows he has to accommodate

Mr. Ragland?s access to his property.



Debra Beckley, of 6825 Springbrook Court, came to the podium. States that

every time she comes to a meeting, things are different, lot sizes or cost of

homes on lots. She is very concerned about what will actually be done when the

property is rezoned.



Earl Cheal, 6952 Widgeon Drive, came to the podium. He is concerned about the

integrity of the area. Wants same kind of houses built that are already in the

area. The Midland Homeowners Association Board of Directors voted unanimously

to support the opposition to the rezoning.





Ginger Bagley, 6824 Springbrook Court, came to the podium. She stated she was

concerned about the buffer, and also drainage. She has a creek behind her

property. When it rains it floods her back yard.



Jean Flowers, 6333 Warm Springs Road, was next at the podium. She passed

around pictures of the area. She lives adjacent to Stone Creek Subdivision.

She was concerned about the drainage in the area.



Patricia Miles, 7225 Springbrook Drive, came to the podium. Was concerned that

the houses that were going to be built would not be comparable to the value of

her house.



Dave Erickson came to the podium. Co-Chairman Dodds asked Mr. Erickson if he

would agree to a minimum square footage of the home sites. Mr. Erickson

offered to move the bridge for Mr. Ragland. He said no. Mr. Erickson offered

to put up a fence along his property line. He said no. Mr. Erickson states he

has tried to appease Mr. Ragland. He also said he can work around the

easement. He has made a huge effort to solve the easement issue. The

greenspace will only be impacted to the degree necessary to get a house site

and driveway, and a reasonable perimeter around it. Mr. Erickson said he will

not be bound by the square footage requirements at this time, but he mentioned

that in the R-1 area, to the north, the houses will be in the $200,000.00 price

range. The lowest square footage would be 2000 sq. ft. Some of the owners

will want 2,200 ? 2,500 sq. ft. Some houses may have three garages. The R-1A

area will be 1,700 to 1,800 sq. ft. house in the range of $150,000.00 price

range.



Co-Chairman Dodds called for a motion on the first case, which is north of the

creek on Warm Springs Road. Commissioner Corradino made a motion to approve

rezoning of Case ZC0203-7 with a special condition requirement that any lots in

the R-1 area that adjoin Mr. Ragland?s property, the lot sizes be increased to

a minimum of 125 sq. ft. width which is consistent with the width of an A-1

zoned lot. Commissioner McKnight seconded. Commissioners Corradino, McKnight,

Henderson, Shields and Kitchen voted to approve the request. Commissioner

Jamison voted to deny. Co-Chairman called for a motion on the second case,

which is south of the creek. Commissioner Corradino made a motion to approve

rezoning of Case ZC0203-8 based on the Finding of Facts. Commissioner McKnight

seconded. Commissioners Corradino, McKnight, Henderson, Shields and Kitchen

voted to approve the request. Commissioner Jamison voted to deny.





IV. NEW BUSINESS

No New Business



OLD BUSINESS

No Old Business





V. ADJOURNMENT

Co-Chairperson Dodds adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.







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Bradford Dodds, Co-Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator