Columbus, Georgia

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING



April 3, 2002



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, April 3,

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, Shep Mullin, and Derrick

Shields



Commissioners Absent: Sharon Jamison and Arline Kitchen



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



Others Present: Philip T. Schley, Phillip G. Latimer, Glen Honzolman, Thomas

Ed Adams, and Michael Baker





CALL TO ORDER



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

explained the rezoning process to the audience. Chairperson King announced

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

entertained a motion to vote on the March 20, 2002 meeting minutes.

Commissioner Dodds made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner

Mullin seconded the motion. The vote was carried unanimously.





I. REZONING CASES



1) ZC0203-1: Arequest to rezone the property located at the northeastern corner

of River Road & Schley Road (see Location Map). The property is currently zoned

A-1(Agricultural) District. The requested zoning is C-2 (Neighborhood Shopping)

District. The property is to beused for convenience store / gas station.



Dr. Philip Thomas Schley, 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. 2, which

shows Rural-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. 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. The

driveway along River Road (SR 219) will require a permit from Engineering and

GDOT. The River Road driveway may require a deceleration lane. The driveway

along Schley Road will require only a permit from Engineering. There is some

question as to whether Schley Road is in fact a public road. 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.



Commissioner Dodds stated that there appears to be no other zoning in the area

but the one C-2 lot located across the street. He asked if that was the reason

that this area is not considered spot zoning.



Mr. Johnson stated yes. He stated that it was a feed and seed store.



Dr. Philip T. Schley, owner of the property, stated that he has decided to put

an attractive store on the lot in question. He stated that Schley Road belongs

to the City and the road has been maintained by the City. He also stated that

he would like to work out a long-term lease with one of the local gas stations,

such as BP Amoco. Dr. Schley stated that the persons that would lease the

building would have to agree to his terms on the up-keep and design of the

building.



Commissioner Shields arrived for the meeting.



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

Mullin 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 it does not constitute spot zoning. He also stated that the

special condition should be provided. Commissioner Corradino seconded the

motion. Three Commissioners (Mullin, McKnight, & Corradino) voted for

conditional approval and two Commissioners (Henderson & Dodds) voted for

denial. The vote was carried for conditional approval.





2) ZC0203-2: Arequest to rezone the property located at 1125 Lockwood

Avenue(see Location Map). The property is currently zoned R-3A(Medium Density

Residential) District. The requested zoning is A-O (Apartment- Office)

District. The property is to beused for an accounting office.



Phillip G. Latimer & Michael C. Baker, Applicant





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

that the request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan P.D. 8, which shows

Offices for this area. He stated that the request is consistent with the

policy statements P.D. 8, Commercial Development policy statement #1. 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. 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. The minimum driveway width of 20 feet will be

required. The radii of 15 feet can only be reduced by a variance approved by

Council. Engineering is willing to recommend the installation of a DOT 6050

driveway as a variance. 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.



Chairperson King announced that Derrick Shields would be voting in place of

Arline Kitchen.



Philip Latimer, owner of the property, stated that he intends to use the

property as an accounting office. He stated that the house was in need of

repair when the house was purchased. He also stated that the houses located

across the street are also A-O and the adjacent property owners have no

abjection to the rezoning. Mr. Latimer stated that the outside appearance to

the house would not change.



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

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

it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is consistent with policy

statements, it is compatible with existing land uses, and it does not

constitute spot zoning. He also stated that the special condition should be

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

unanimously.





3) ZC0203-3: Arequest to rezone the property located at the northeastern corner

of Veterans Parkway & Old Whittlesey Road (Old Gin House) (see Location Map).

The property is currently zoned M-1(Light Manufacturing) District. The

requested zoning is C-3 (General Commercial) District. The property is to

beused for a restaurant.



Thomas Ed Adams, Applicant



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

that the request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan P.D. 2, which shows

Mixed Office / Commercial for this area. He stated that the request is

consistent with the policy statements P.D. 2, Commercial Development policy

statement #1. 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. 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. The driveway

along Veterans Parkway (SR 1) will require a permit from Engineering and GDOT.

The Veterans Parkway driveway may require a deceleration lane. Mr. Johnson

stated that a special condition is needed: the developer shall not use any

directional / flood-style lighting that will interfere with Veterans Parkway

traffic. He stated that he received no comments from adjoining property owners.



Thomas Ed Adams, owner of the property, stated that he has already been to the

Board of Historic and Architectural Review to receive a permit to use a parking

lot to the north. He stated that he would not have any curb-cuts on Veterans

Parkway. He also stated that the building would be leased to a person that is

in the ice cream and sandwich business.



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

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

consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, it is consistent with policy

statements, it is compatible with existing land uses and it does not constitute

spot zoning. He also stated that the special condition should be provided.

Commissioner Shields seconded the motion. The vote was carried unanimously.





II. OTHER BUSINESS



After a brief discussion,Chairperson King entertained a motion to vote on the

Planning Advisory Commission procedures. Commissioner Dodds made a motion to

adopt the Planning Advisory Commission procedures with the amended changes.

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



Chairperson King announced that the procedures would be used effective May 1,

2002.



ADJOURNMENT



Chairperson King adjourned the meeting at 10:40 a.m.





___________________________________ ___________________________________



Ralph King, Chairperson Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator