Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING



March 20, 2002



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, March 6,

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



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Ralph King, Vice Chairperson Bradford

Dodds, Berry Henderson, Mike Corradino, Rick McKnight, and Shep Mullin



Commissioners Absent: Arline Kitchen, Sharon Jamison, and Derrick Shields



Staff Members: Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator, and Denise Taylor, Recorder



Others Present: Baxter Edwards, Ken Blackmon, David Cummings, Ron Mullenix, and

Jacob Biel





CALL TO ORDER



Chairperson King called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. Chairperson King

explained the rezoning process to the audience. He announced that alternate

Shep Mullin would be voting in place of Sharon Jamison. Chairperson King

entertained a motion to vote on the March 6, 2002 meeting minutes. Commissioner

Dodds made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Mullin seconded the

motion. The vote was carried unanimously.





I. TABLED CASES



1) ZC0202-4: Arequest to rezone part of the southeast corner of Moye Road &

Buena Vista Road (see Location Map). The property is currently zoned R-1(Low

Density Residential) District. The requested zoning is C-3 (General Commercial)

District. The property is to beused for offices / storage of vehicles.



Baxter Edwards, Applicant



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

that the request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan P.D. 11, which

shows Low Density Residential for this area. He stated that policy statements

are not addressed. He stated it is compatible with existing land uses. The

property is served by all city services. He also stated the property does not

lie within a studied floodplain and floodway area. Engineering 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; there is C-3

zoning approximately 63 feet east of this property. 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 off-street

parking and curb cuts must meet the Codes and regulations of the City of

Columbus Consolidated Government for commercial usage. A deceleration lane

maybe required at this site. Mr. Johnson stated that a special condition is

needed: all lighting shall be directed internally using deflectors.He stated

that he received one letter from an adjoining property owner opposing this

request.



Jacob Biel, representing the applicant, stated that the intent is to use the

lots for office use as well as vehicle parking. He stated that the use would

be a cable and communications business. He also stated that the parking of

vehicles would only consist of vehicles used by the company. Mr. Biel stated

that the commercial enterprise that is intended would be similar to the

property that is east of this lot.



Commissioner McKnight asked if there would be a problem with placing conditions

on the rezoning.



Mr. Johnson stated that C-3 is broad therefore placing restrictions on the

property may be an option that the Commission may want to consider.



Ken Blackmon, purchaser of the property, stated that the southern portion of

this land has a slope of about 300 feet; therefore he could understand why

someone might be worried about a junkyard. He also stated that he plans on

building a dam for a possible lake in that area. Mr. Blackmon stated that this

300 feet hole used to be a lake. He also stated that his residence, along with

his father?s residence, is in this neighborhood, so he has no intentions of

putting a junkyard there. He also stated that he feels there is no reason to

put restrictions on the rezoning.



Commissioner McKnight stated that there is a need to come up with a way to

allow Mr. Blackmon to have room to do what he would like, but that the

neighbors in the community need to be protected as well.



Commissioner Henderson asked if there is a need for the property to be rezoned

C-3.



Mr. Johnson stated that C-3 would be best because there is C-3 zoning 63 feet

away.



Commissioner McKnight asked Mr. Blackmon to look through the Zoning Ordinance

and eliminate the uses that he would be comfortable having restricted.



Chairperson King stated that case ZC0202-4 would be tabled until after the next

case.





II. REZONING CASES



1) ZC0202-4: Arequest to rezone the property located at 1118, 1230, 1234, 1236,

& 1240 54th Street(see Location Map). The property is currently zoned

A-O(Apartment-Office) District & M-1 (Light Manufacturing) District w/

conditions. The requested zoning is M-1 (Light Manufacturing) District. The

property is to beused for warehouse / offices.



The McDougal Company, Applicant





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

that the request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan P.D. 5, which

shows Low Density Residential for this area. He stated that policy statements

are not addressed. He stated it is compatible with existing land uses. The

property is served by all city services. He also stated the property does not

lie within a studied floodplain and floodway area. Engineering 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: 54th Street is currently

in the 2002-2004 Transportation Improvement Program to be widened to four (4)

lanes with median. The building setback line needs to be based on future

right-of-way requirements necessary for the road project. He reported that

off-street parking and curb cuts must meet the Codes and regulations of the

City of Columbus Consolidated Government for commercial usage. Mr. Johnson

stated that a special condition is needed: all lighting shall be directed

internally using deflectors.He stated that he received no comments from

adjoining property owners.



Mr. Johnson stated that the Council members drew an imaginary line to state

that nothing west of the railroad tracks would be rezoned commercial.



David Cummings, representing the applicant, stated that in 1996 the property

located on the southeast corner of Chumar Drive and 54th Street was zoned M-1.

He stated that there were four houses in that location. He also stated that

two of the houses had been vacated and the other two houses are rented. Mr.

Cummings stated that their intentions are to build a warehouse / office use.

He stated that in their plans they were very generous with the setbacks. He

also stated that DOT would be widening 54th Street and when it happens they

would be left with a nice buffer. Mr. Cummings stated that all of the vehicles

would enter from the rear. He stated that he has talked with the neighbors and

there were no negative comments.



Commissioner Corradino asked what conditions were placed on the M-1 lot.



Mr. Johnson stated that it limits the use to a construction office / warehouse

only.



Commissioner Corradino asked if the request would eliminate that condition.



Mr. Johnson stated yes.



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

Corradino made a motion to approve the request based on the fact

that although it is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is

compatible with existing land uses and is bordered on three property lines by

M-1 zoning districts. He also stated that the special condition should be

provided. Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion. The vote was carried

unanimously.



I.TABLED CASES (cont.)



1) ZC0202-4: Arequest to rezone part of the southeast corner of Moye Road &

Buena Vista Road (see Location Map). The property is currently zoned R-1(Low

Density Residential) District. The requested zoning is C-3 (General Commercial)

District. The property is to beused for offices / storage of vehicles.



Baxter Edwards, Applicant



Mr. Biel stated that he and Mr. Blackmon had eliminated several uses. He

stated that uses (B)(2), (B)(3)(i), (B)(3)(j), (B)(20)(c), (B)(14)(f.1), and

(B)(13)(a) could be eliminated.



Mr. Johnson asked if the bar / drinking establishments need to be included in

the eliminated uses.



Mr. Blackmon stated that the only problem he has with eliminating bars and

other uses is that areas change and in the future he would like to have

flexibility on what he can do with the property.



Mr. Johnson stated that every five years there is a new Comprehensive Plan and

the area could very well change in reality and in the plan. He also stated

that the conditions have a life of twenty years. If a condition needs revision

or needs to be eliminated, then the property owner can request to go back

through the [process and either get the conditions revised or deleted.



Mr. Blackmon stated that the conditions would be fine as long as he had some

flexibility in the future.



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

McKnight made a motion to approve the request based on the fact

that although it is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is

compatible with existing land uses, does not constitute spot zoning, and does

not impact negatively on the transportation network. He also stated that

special conditions concerning lighting and restricted uses should be provided.

Commissioner Mullin seconded the motion. Four Commissioners voted for approval

and one Commissioner (Dodds) voted for denial.





III. OTHER BUSINESS



Mr. Johnson and the Commissioners held a discussion concerning the Planning

Advisory Commission procedures. Mr. Johnson stated that the procedures would

be voted on at the April 3, 2002 meeting.



ADJOURNMENT



Chairperson King adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m.











___________________________________ ___________________________________

Ralph King, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator