Columbus, Georgia

Subject: The Planning Division has recommended to the Council of Columbus that the text

amendment creating the Mill Restoration Overlay District (MROD), be approved.

A copy of the Staff Report is enclosed for your information.

Staff Report

Application

The Planning Division, at the request of Columbus Council, is proposing a new

zoning classification. The purpose and intent of creating a Mill Restoration

Overlay District (MROD) is to allow the Council to address specific issues that

may exist with vacant mills, without the necessity for creating an entirely new

zoning district (i.e., SAC, CRD, etc.) or creating the need for one or more

variances to achieve a desired community benefit. A MROD will allow flexible

zoning and planning techniques.

Proposed Text Amendment

Add MROD (Mill Restoration Overlay District) to Section 22-8: Area, Yard, &

Height Requirements to read as follows:



District and Uses Minimum Lot Area (Square Feet) Minimum Lot Area Per Family (Square Feet)

Minimum Lot Width (Feet) Front (Feet) Side (Feet) Side-Corner Lot (Feet) Rear (Feet) Maximum Height (Feet) Maximum Lot

Coverage by Buildings

MROD (j) (j) (j) (j) (j) (j) (j) (j) (j)



(j) Unless otherwise addressed in the ordinance approving a MROD, the

requirements of the underlying zoning district shall apply.



Add Sec. 22-26.4 to read as follows:



Sec. 22-26.4 MROD Mill Restoration Overlay District.



(A) Purpose and Intent. The purpose and intent of creating a Mill

Restoration Overlay District (MROD) is to allow the Council to address specific

issues that may exist with vacant mills without the necessity for creating an

entirely new zoning district or creating the need for one or more variances to

achieve a desired community benefit. A MROD allows the Council to address the

following issues concerning mill restoration:



(1) Architectural or design issues.

Architectural or design issues shall be addressed individually concerning each

mill.

(2) Building fa?ades.

Building facades shall be addressed individually concerning each mill.

(3) Economic development.

Economic development criteria:

(A) Job creation

(B) Neighborhood revitalization

(C) Taxation impact

(D) New land-use designations

(4) Historic resources.

Historic resources shall be assessed by the Lower Chattahoochee Regional

Development Commission?s Historic Preservation Planner.

(5) Landscaping.

Landscaping shall be addressed in Article VI, Buffer, Screening and Landscaping

Requirements, of Chapter 18A, Subdivisions, of the Columbus City Code (Ord. No.

99-25, 04-29-99; Ord. No. 00-58, 06-13-00).

(6) Natural resources protection and preservation.

Natural resources protection and preservation shall be addressed individually

concerning each mill.

(7) Signage.

No portable signs or billboards shall be permitted in the MROD. All other

signage requirements shall be addressed in the Sign Regulations ordinance

(Columbus City Code, Chapter 17E, Ord. No. 98-11, 02-10-98).

(8) Specific use regulations.

(A) Principal uses:

(1) Education:

(a) College and universities (off-site classes, distance learning and

outreach only).

(b) Dancing schools.

(c) Day care centers (children only).

(2) Housing

(a) Multi-family dwelling.

(3) Restaurants

(a) Restaurants, excluding drive-in restaurants.

(b) Drinking establishments, such as bars, taverns, and cocktail

lounges.

(4) Retail trade

(a) Apparel & accessory stores.

(b) Bicycle sales.

(c) Book & stationary stores, excluding adult bookstores.

(d) Camera & photographic supply stores.

(e) Florists.

(f) Food stores.

(g) Gift, novelty, antique, and souvenir stores, excluding any adult

entertainment activity.

(h) Hobby, toy, and game shops.

(i) Jewelry stores.

(j) Merchandise stores (specialized).

(k) News dealers and newsstands.

(l) Sporting goods store.

(m) Tobacco shop or stand.

(5) Services (personal):

(a) Barber and beauty shops.

(b) Dry cleaners.

(c) Gyms.

(d) Photographic studios.

(e) Shoe repair and shoeshine parlors.

(f) Yoga and pilates.

(6) Services (repair):

(a) Bicycle repair and service.

(b) Computer repair.

(c) Jewelry repair.

(d) Television and radio repair.

(7) Services (health):

(a) Clinics, including a pharmacy as an accessory use.

(b) Day spas.

(c) Massage therapy.

(d) Office of health service practitioners. Physicians, surgeons,

dentists and

dental

surgeons, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors and

other licensed practitioners similar to those listed.

(e) Pharmacies.

(8) Services (professional and business):

(a) Financial institutions.

(b) Offices for accountants, architects, auditors, bookkeepers,

engineers.

(c) Offices for finance, real estate and insurance.

(d) Offices for legal services.

(e) Offices for other services, businesses and professions.

(9) Transportation:

(a) Taxi stands.

(B) Accessory Uses:

(1) Earth satellite station (receive only).

(2) Laundry room for use of occupants of the multi-family dwelling.

(3) Office for administration of a multiple family development.

(4) Parking, off-street spaces.

(5) Recreational/meeting facilities constructed in connection with a

residential development.

(6) Signs (see "Sign requirements")

(7) Swimming pool and game courts, lighted and unlighted for use of

occupants or their guests.

(8) Telephone (public), inside a main building.

(9) Vending machines (coin- operated), for candy, ice, soft drinks,

and sundries, inside a building.

(9) Tree and vegetation preservation.

Tree and vegetation preservation shall be addressed in the Tree Preservation

and Replacement ordinance (Columbus City Code, Chapter 20A, Ord. No. 02-43,

06-04-02) and in Article VI, Buffer, Screening and Landscaping Requirements, of

Chapter 18A, Subdivisions, of the Columbus City Code (Ord. No. 99-25, 04-29-99;

Ord. No. 00-58, 06-13-00).





(B) MROD Creation and Application. A MROD shall be created and applied as

indicated below:



(1) Creation.

A MROD shall be adopted in the same manner as a standard zoning

district.

(2) Application.

A MROD shall be applied to vacant mills in the City at the

request of the property owner. The specific boundaries of

a MROD shall be created by the implementing ordinance and shall be indicated on

the official Zoning Atlas. The Planning Division shall review all applications

for compliance with the requirements of the MROD.

(3) Regulations and Incentives.

The regulations, incentives and other land development

regulations applicable within a MROD shall be included in

the ordinance creating the district.

(4) Inclusion in Land Development Regulations.

All mill restoration overlay zoning districts that are created

shall be included in the Zoning Ordinance.

(5) Conflicts.

In the event of a conflict between the regulations associated

with a MROD and the regulations of the underlying

zoning district, the requirements of the overlay district shall apply. Unless

otherwise addressed in the ordinance approving a MROD, the requirements of the

underlying zoning district shall apply.

(6) Special Terms

The following words are used with reference only to a historic

district or landmark site:

(A) Board of Historic and Architectural Review is a seven-member

historical preservation commission established by

the Columbus City Council under Georgia Code 2-6102 (see ?Board of Historic and

Architectural Review?, Sec. 22-39)

(B) Certificate of Appropriateness means a document evidencing

approval by the board of historic and architectural

review [of a] structure located within a designated historic district, which

document must be obtained before such material change may be undertaken (see

?Administration?, Sec. 22-36)

(C) Historic property means a structure, site or work of art

deemed worthy of preservation by reason of its

natural or aesthetic interest and which is continuing to contribute to the

cultural or historical development and heritage of the City of Columbus.

Historic properties shall include all properties zoned H (historic district) or

designated L (landmark site) in the zoning ordinance or on the zoning atlas of

Columbus, Georgia.





(Ord. No. 84-6, ? 2, 1-31-84: Ord. No. 97-3, 1-14-97: Ord. No. 97-92, ?

1, 9-9-97)

Planning Advisory Commission Recommendation

The Planning Advisory Commission considered this text amendment at their

meeting on August 6, 2003. The Commission voted to approve the text amendment

as presented.

Planning Department Recommendation

The Planning Division recommends approval of the proposed text amendment.

Application

The Planning Division, at the request of Columbus Council, is proposing a new

zoning classification. The purpose and intent of creating a Mill Restoration

Overlay District (MROD) is to allow the Council to address specific issues that

may exist with vacant mills, without the necessity for creating an entirely new

zoning district (i.e., SAC, CRD, etc.) or creating the need for one or more

variances to achieve a desired community benefit. A MROD will allow flexible

zoning and planning techniques.

Maps & Photos

N/A

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