Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING

December 18, 2002



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

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, Michael Corradino, Berry Henderson and

Arline Kitchen.



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



Commissioners Absent: None



Others Present: Harriet P. Liles, Amy Carroll, Les Talley.



I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson King called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.



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

20, 2002 minutes to be accepted. Commissioner Corradino made a motion to

accept the minutes with requested changes made. Commissioner Jamison seconded

the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously. Chairperson King explained

the rezoning process to the audience.



III. REZONING CASES



ZC0211-5: A request to rezone the property located on the west side of

Talbotton Road between Olive and 27th Streets. The current zoning is R-4 (High

Density Residential) District. The proposed zoning is A-O (Apartment/Office)

District. The property is to be used for office and commercial.



Columbus Housing Authority, Applicant



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

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (P. D. 8). It shows offices 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. It must meet

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

commercial usage. A deceleration lane shall be required as determined by the

Traffic Engineer. On site circulation along with access to the site must not

interfere with the movement and function of the arterial street which is Warm

Springs Road / Talbotton Road. The roadway design shall include sidewalks

along public streets. There are special conditions needed. 1.) All lighting

shall be directly internally using deflector shields. 2.) No external trash

dumpsters / compactors shall be located along the property line bordered by the

R-4 zoning district. 3.) All external trash dumpsters / compactors shall be

visually obstructed by a structure that is esthetically similar to the proposed

development. 4.) A deceleration lane shall be required as determined by the

Traffic Engineer. 5). On site circulation along with access to the site shall

not interfere with the movement function of the arterial street, Warm Springs

Road. 6.) The roadway design shall include sidewalks along public streets.

There were no comments from adjoining property owners. Mr. Johnson explained

that this is part of the Hope VI Grant.



Amy Carroll, Housing Authority of Columbus, came to the podium. Part of the

Hope VI Grant is to demolish Peabody Apartments. It will become a mixed income

development. There are some services needed in the area that are not being

provided. HUD required that the rezoning be in place prior to submitting the

application. A dry cleaners or other services will be made available to the

area. They don?t have any plans for anything specific.



Chairperson King asked for a motion. Commissioner McKnight made a motion to

approve this case, according to the Finding of Facts. Co-Chairperson Dodds

seconded. It was approved unanimously.





ZC0211-6: This is a request to rezone the property located at 3907 Willis

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

proposed zoning is R-3A (Medium Density Residential) District. It is to be

used to replace four existing apartments with four new apartments.



Harriett P. Liles, Applicant



Mr. Will Johnson presented the Finding of Facts. This case is not consistent

with the Comprehensive Plan, 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 flood plain or floodway

area. The Engineering Department will need to improve a drainage plan prior to

issuance of a Site Development permit. 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.) No external trash dumpters /

compactors shall be located along the property lines bordered by the R-1A

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

visually obstructed by a structure that is esthetically similar to the proposed

development. There was one letter in support of this rezoning, and one call

from a resident who voiced concern about what was going on.



Commissioner McKnight commented that on the agenda it says the property will be

used to replace four existing apartments, but when he looks at the site plan he

sees six apartments. The R-3A zoning allows six units.



Harriett P. Liles came to the podium. She has owned the property for over 26

years and she has maintained it for years. The apartments are demolished

already. They were too much of a burden to maintain. She will build four new

units. To do so will require the R-3A zoning. Next door to Ms. Liles there

are 28 units. The residents in the area say they have no concerns.



Chairperson King opened up the floor for a motion. Commissioner Henderson made

a motion to approve this rezoning based on the Finding of Facts.

Co-Chairperson Dodds seconded. Commissioner McKnight asked if they should make

a special condition about the number of units. Chairperson King said no. It was

approved unanimously.



Chairperson King stated that January 15 would be the first meeting of 2003.

Traditionally a new Chairperson is elected on the last meeting in December.

Chairperson King nominated Commissioner Dodds to be the new Chairperson.

Commissioner McKnight was nominated for the Co-Chairperson. Co-Chairman Dodds

was voted on unanimously to be the new Chairperson. Commissioner McKnight was

voted on unanimously to be the new Co-Chairperson.



IV. NEW BUSINESS

All Commissioners are invited to the luncheon on January 7, 2003 by Rick Jones

of Transportation Planning.



Statements were made about the alternates being voting members. The Clerk of

Council will handle everything. There won?t be a delay.



OLD BUSINESS

No Old Business





V. ADJOURNMENT

Chairperson King adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m.







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Ralph King, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator