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

Staff Report
ZC0504-5

Applicant
Steven Cadranel
Owner
George M. Adams Co.
Location
1) Tract I, north of Weems Road and south of Whittlesey Boulevard

2) Tract F, running adjacent and parallel to the west property line of

Greystone at Columbus Park apartments
Acreage
11.5 acres each
Current Zoning Classification
1) Tract I ? RO (Residential-Office)

2) Tract F ? GC (General Commercial)
Proposed Zoning Classification
1) Tract I ? GC (General Commercial)

2) Tract F ? RO (Residential-Office)
Council District
PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Advisory Commission recommends approval based upon the fact that

it is consistent with the future land-use map of the Comprehensive Plan and

compatible with existing land-uses.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Conditional approval based on the fact that it is consistent with the future

land-use map of the Comprehensive Plan and it is compatible with existing

land-uses. The recommended conditions are listed at the end of the staff

report.
Fort Benning's Recommendation
N/A
DRI Recommendation
N/A
General Land use
Property is located in Planning District 2

Land Use Designations: Mixed Office / Commercial
Environmental Impacts
The property does not lie within a floodway and floodplain area. The developer

will need an approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development

permit, if a permit is required.
City Services
Property is served by all city services.
Traffic Impact
A traffic study was conducted in 2000 for the original zoning of these tracts

and the others in the development. The traffic study included these two

tracts. Numerous traffic improvements have been made for the overall

development. An updated traffic report was conducted and produced similar

traffic numbers to the 2000 study.
Surrounding Zoning
Tract I:

North ? GC (General Commercial)

South ?RO (Residential-Office)

East ? GC (General Commercial)

West ? GC (General Commercial)



Tract F:

North ? GC (General Commercial)

South ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1)

East ? RO (Residential-Office) & SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1)

West ? GC (General Commercial)
Reasonableness of Request
The proposed zoning classification is consistent with the future land-use map

of the Comprehensive Plan.
School Impact
No school impact.
Buffer Requirements
Tract I:

No buffer requirement. A 200-feet wide buffer was required along Weems Road as

a zoning condition in 2000.

Tract F:

The proposed development shall have a Category C buffer requirement along all

property lines bordered by the SFR1 zoning district. The 3 options under

Category C are:

1) 20 feet with a certain amount of canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs

/ ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet

2) 10 feet with a certain amount of shrubs / ornamental grasses per 100 linear

feet and a wood fence or masonry wall

3) 30 feet undisturbed natural buffer.
Attitude of Property Owners
Eighteen (18) property owners within 300 feet were notified of the rezoning

request. The Planning Division received one comment supporting this rezoning

request and one comments opposing this rezoning request.
Additional Information
All of the conditions imposed on these properties in 2000 shall still apply.



Conditions:

1) The following conditions shall be imposed upon any development of a single

premise of 100,000 square feet or greater associated with this rezoning.

2) The property shall be subject to the conditions listed in Ordinance 00-89.



3) The proposed development shall be consistent in design to the existing main

shopping center structure at Columbus Park Crossing. In meeting the conditions

of the City Buffer and Tree Ordinances, the owner shall use good faith efforts

to organize trees, landscaping features, and walkways to define a pedestrian

friendly corridor within the parking area.

4) The development shall include a tree unit density requirement (TDU) of 20

TDU?s per acre.

5) Monument-style ground signs shall complement on-building signage and shall

provide a pole cover with architectural design features, including color and

materials common to those used in the design of the building(s) to which the

sign is necessary.

6) The following types of signs shall be prohibited in these developments:

portable signs; street banners; inflatable signs/flying signs; blinking signs,

billboards/off-premises signs; painted wall signs; bench signs; and roof signs.



7) Metal sided or portable buildings shall be prohibited.

8) All mechanical, HVAC and like systems visible from Whittlesey Boulevard

shall be screened from street view.

9) Any accessories provided such as railings, benches, trash receptacles,

and/or bicycle racks shall complement the building design and style.

10) Outdoor storage, areas shall be attractively screened from adjacent

streets. Areas for these items shall be permanently defined and screened with

walls and /or fences. Materials, colors and design of screening walls and/or

fences shall conform to those used as in the principal structure. If such

areas are to be covered, then the covering shall conform to the colors on the

building.

11) Parking lot areas shall not be used for storage except as approved by the

City Planning Department in their reasonable, uniform, and customary judgment.

Sale of seasonal merchandise maybe sold in parking lot areas no more than eight

(8) weeks out of the year.

12) The existing traffic signals shall be modified, retrofitted, etc., so as to

provide for movements to and from the south side of Whittlesey Boulevard. Any

additional signals shall be subject to the approval of the City Planning

Department.

13) The following conditions shall also apply to Property Owners of any vacant

premise in excess of 100,000 square feet:

A. The Property Owner will maintain the exterior of the building so as to keep

the appearance similar to that when the building was fully occupied. In the

event the store is damaged or destroyed as a result of inclement weather, act

of God, fire, or other catastrophe, the Property Owner will promptly notify

City officials and initiate appropriate action to return the property to a safe

and clean condition as soon as practical.

B. The Property Owner will maintain the landscaped areas in accordance with

landscape plans approved by the City and in the same condition as such areas

were maintained when the store was open.

C. The Property Owner will maintain the parking area in the same condition as

such area was maintained when the store was open.

D. The Property Owner will maintain the cleanliness of the entire site by

removing any trash, rubbish, or other debris deposited on the site.

E. The Property Owner will provide security patrols on the site to deter

vandalism or other illegal activities on the property.

F. The Property Owner shall use good faith efforts to market and re-tenant the

Premise.

G. Should any single occupant premise in excess of 100,000 square feet become

vacant for more than 60 days, and the Owner fails to maintain the property in

accordance with the conditions listed above, the City may notify the Owner in

writing of any such failures and in the event such failures are not cured with

in 30 days, the owner shall be subject to citation by the Inspections and Codes

Division to Recorder?s Court and shall be subject to the maximum fine permitted

for ordinance violations for each violation of any provision of this ordinance

or the Columbus UDO. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate

offense. The City or its designee may enter the property and take such action

as may be reasonably necessary to correct such deficiencies at the Owner?s

expense.
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