Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Website: www.columbusga.gov/planning


12/7/2005
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: Subject: (ZC0511-6) Special Exception Use request to operate a church in excess

of 250 seats at 4078 Milgen Road.



Requested

action: Resolution approving a Special Exception Use for a church in excess of

250 seats at 4078 Milgen Road (see attached map and site plan).



Christ Community Church submitted an application for the Special Exception Use

cited above. The property is located in LMI (Light Manufacturing / Industrial)

and SFR2 (Single Family Residential 2) Districts. The proposed zoning is SFR2

(Single Family Residential 2) District. The purpose of the Special Exception

Use is to operate a church in excess of 250 seats. Churches in excess of 250

seats are permitted in an SFR2 zoning district only on a site-specific basis

upon approval of the Council based upon the following criteria and conditions:



(1) Access: Is or will the type of street providing access to the use be

adequate to serve the proposed special exception use?



Access to the property is adequate for the proposed use. The main access to

the property is Milgen Road. The property has over 800 feet of frontage on

Milgen Road and 50 feet of frontage on Rowland Avenue.



(2) Traffic and Pedestrian Safety: Is or will access into and out of the

property be adequate to provide for traffic and pedestrian safety, the

anticipated volume of the traffic flow, and access by emergency vehicles?



The proposed use is expected to adequately meet requirements for ingress and

egress, internal circulation (traffic and pedestrian), traffic volume, and

public safety access. Pedestrian traffic along Milgen Road would be inadequate

due to the traffic volume and the lack of pedestrian facilities along said

road. Churches are usually low traffic generators. An SFR2 subdivision

(current zoning) would generate more traffic than the proposed use.



(3) Adequacy of Public Facilities: Are or will public facilities such as

school, water, or sewer utilities and police and fire protection be adequate to

serve the special exception use?



The proposed use is served by all city services. There will be no school

impact.



(4) Protection from Adverse Affects: Are or will refuse, service, parking and

loading areas on the property be located or screened to protect other

properties in the area from such adverse effects as noise, light, glare or odor?



The proposed use is not expected to adversely affect neighboring properties.

Issues dealing with parking, loading, external dumpsters / compactors, and

light are addressed in the UDO. Noise impacts are addressed in the City Code.



(5) Hours of Operation: Will the hours and manner of operation of the special

exception use have no adverse effects on other properties in the area?



The office will be open between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.

Wednesday night dinners and Sunday services will be offered. There are other

opportunities for non-regular hours, such as choir practice and scouting, but

this should not adversely affect neighboring properties.



(6) Compatibility: Will the height, size, or location of the buildings or other

structures on the property be compatible with the height, size, character, or

location of buildings or other structures on neighboring properties?



The proposed use is in a highly developed commercial corridor. The proposed

structures should not have a detrimental effect on neighboring properties.

Most of the proposed use will be located away from residential uses.



Fifty-seven (57) property owners within 300 feet of the parcel were notified by

letter of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Division

has not received any comments about the Special Exception Use request.

However, comments of concern were heard at the Planning Advisory Commission

during the rezoning phase of this property.



The application for a Special Exception Use meets the criteria for approval,

therefore, the Planning Advisory Commission and the Planning Division recommend

that the Council approve the use.



Respectfully,





Rick Jones, AICP

Director, Planning Department



Enclosure/Attachment



cc: Richard Stephens



ZC0511-6



Respectfully,

Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department



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