Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

July 29, 2003



Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers and Councilors R. Gary Allen,

Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson (arrived 8:31 a.m.) Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr., Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson. Also

present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen Cavezza, City

Attorney Clifton Fay and Finance Director Kay Love.



Members Absent: Councilor Wayne Anthony was absent.

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City Manager Cavezza called the meeting to order at 8:28 a.m. in the Council

Chambers Conference Room, Plaza Level, Government Center.



Mill Restoration Overlay:

City Manager Cavezza informed the members of Council that we would be bringing

forth, on the City Attorney?s Agenda, a text amendment change to the zoning

ordinance to incorporate the Mill Restoration Overlay District. He explained

that we have a number of mills that could be restored to include Fieldcrest

Mill and City Mill; therefore, we are putting together an overlay district to

address mills in a certain category. He said this would be a mixed use, and

the only challenging piece is the alcoholic beverage issue to include the pubs,

taverns, bars and cocktail lounges. He said that we are looking at applying

the same kinds of rules that apply in the entertainment district in Uptown. He

pointed out that it gets complicated when there are homes within 300 feet of

the mills or club; even though, the area is zoned a M-1 classification. He

said this is something that we would have to address with the alcoholic

beverage code.



He advised this would be brought to Council on first reading, but he wanted to

provide the Council with some information beforehand. He pointed out this text

amendment would first go to the Planning Advisory Commission. He then briefly

outlined the uses that would be able to locate in the Mill Restoration District.



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Comprehensive Plan:

Using an overhead projector, City Manager Cavezza briefed the members of

Council on the Comprehensive Plan. (A document titled ?Comprehensive Plan? was

distributed around the table and is hereby filed for the record.) He stated

that once the Council approves the Comprehensive Plan, if for any reason there

is a zoning that is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; then, we are

also saying the Comprehensive Plan should be changed; this is the key to

consistency.



He pointed out there are some areas that are zoned R-4 and Boxwood and Wynnton

are good examples of that, but they are clearly R-3A Districts by current use;

therefore, administratively we need to change that to R-3A to make it

consistent with the R-3A usage. He pointed out there are similar areas around

the City this concept applies to. He added there are some areas that are in

transition, for instance, Columbus State University Campus, Columbus Regional

and St. Francis.



He pointed out that the most significant changes in this Comprehensive Plan is

the buffer requirement. He then briefly explained in more details regarding

the buffer requirements. Councilor Henderson expressed concerns in that there

are no buffer requirements for R-3 zonings developing next to R-1 zoning.



There were continued discussions on this matter with various Councilors

expressing their views. City Manager Cavezza advised that we would be taking

this out to the public to get the citizens feedback; then, we would bring this

back to the Council.



City Manager Cavezza said the other changes we are proposing is the residential

that is one acre and above, and we are basically saying that R-2, which was

formerly part of low density residential, would change to medium density

residential.



Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop responded to questions from Councilor Davis

regarding the Williams/Whitesville Road area. Councilor Davis said that it was

his understanding that anything past this proposed rezoning that is already

rural residential would remain rural residential. Deputy City Manager Bishop

said the property, right now, is low density land use. He added that if the

plans are to make the property rural residential; then, now is the time to do

it. After some additional discussion, City Manager Cavezza advised that we

would go ahead and make that area rural residential.



He then outlined the proposed changes in each Planning Districts and are listed

as follows :



? Planning District One: The Administration is not proposing any changes.



? Planning District Two:



- Residential Development



o Northeast corner of Double Churches Road and Whitesville Road (mixed

use)

o Williams Road between Fortson Road & Veterans Parkway (East of RR

Track) ? From Low Density Residential to Industrial Warehousing

o Veterans North of Hancock Road (Rural Residential)

o North of Pierce Chapel Road from undeveloped to RR





In response to a comment made by Councilor Davis, City Manager Cavezza

pointed out that a Conservation Subdivision could go in anywhere rural

residential. He said they would bring their plan to be approved by Council.

Councilor Suber asked if we could require the developer to bring forth a plot

plan or land plan that they would have to adhere to and hold them liable for

whatever happens with it. City Manager Cavezza advised that the Conservation

Subdivision would be specific.



? Planning District Three:

- Commercial Development



o Warm Springs Road from Miller to Schomburg Road

o Intersection at Beaver Run Road and Psalmond Road (West)



? Planning District Four:

- Industrial Development



o All of Miller Tract



? Planning District Five: No changes recommended.



? Planning District Six: No changes recommended.



? Planning District Seven:

- Commercial Development



o Warm Springs Road from Reese Road to Warm Springs Connector

o CSU overlay zone



? Planning District Eight:

- Commercial Development



o Adjust boundaries of Medical Center and St. Francis to recognize

growth



- Residential Development



o Mid-Town area (Make land use changes to match current and future land

uses)

o Area along Warm Springs Road at Armour Avenue and Willis Road



? Planning District Nine:

-Commercial Development



o Master Plan River Park corridor

o Conform to Liberty District Redevelopment Plan



? Planning District Ten:

-Commercial Development



o Old Buena Vista Road from Neighborhood Commercial to General

Commercial



? Planning District 11:

- Residential Development



o Steam Mill Road east of Northstar to Low Density Residential.



City Manager Cavezza stated that on the rest of them, we are recommending

no changes.



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South Lumpkin Road Area:

Councilor Woodson asked about the South Lumpkin Road area. She pointed out

that there are only a few houses on South Lumpkin Road and lots of commercial

development. She stated this area should be a C-3 zoning classification.

Deputy City Manager Bishop advised that the staff would go back and look at

this area.



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Meeting adjourned 9:00 a.m.







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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council