Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Council Members

PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING

December 3, 2008



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

2008 in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.



Commissioners Present:

Chairperson Karl Douglass

Vice Chairperson Scott Boyce

Commissioners: Cathy Hodge

Micheal Eddings

Ronny Smith

Glen Heinzelman

Travis Chambers



Staff Members: Will Johnson - Planning Department Chief

Daniel Stegall ? Zoning Administrator

Tina Trant ? Planning Technician



Commissioners Absent:



Others Present: George Mize, Jr., Steve Tinscher



CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Karl Douglass called the meeting to order at 9:01

a.m. He explained the rezoning process to the audience.



APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were emailed to the PAC Members but they delayed

voting on them until the December 17, 2008 PAC meeting.



ZONING CASES:



1. ZC08011-1: A request to rezone 2.305 acres located at 2221 & 2311

Manchester Expressway. The current zoning is NC (Neighborhood Commercial).

The proposed zoning is GC (General Commercial). The property will be used for

offices and parking. George Mize, Jr. is the applicant.



Mr. Daniel Stegall read the Staff Report for this case.



Future Land Use Map: This case is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

This property is located in Planning District F. The Land Use Designation

shows General Commercial.



Policy Statements: N/A.



Compatible with Existing Land Uses: Yes.



Environmental Impacts: The property does not lie within a floodplain and

floodway area. The developer will need an approved drainage plan prior to

issuance of a Site Development Permit if a permit is required.



City Services: The property is served by all city services.



Traffic Impact: The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact

on the transportation network.



Traffic Engineering: The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the

Columbus Consolidated Government for commercial usage.



School Impact: No school impact.



Buffer Requirement: The proposed development shall have a Category C buffer

requirement along all property lines bordered by the SFR3 zoning district. The

three options under Category C are:

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

ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet.

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

feet and a wood fence or masonry wall.

30 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: None.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Attitude of Property Owners: Thirty-two (32) property owners within 300 feet

were notified of this rezoning request. The Planning Department did receive one

request for information.



Conditions: None.



Additional information: None.



George Mize, Jr., applicant, came to the podium. He explained that this

building has had several tenants over the past few years. It has always been

Neighborhood Commercial. But, this property does not serve just the

neighborhood. The best use for the property is General Commercial. NC

requires buildings to be less than 5,000 square feet. This building is 25,000

square feet. It is located on an arterial. St. Francis Hospital wants to move

their IT Department to this property. The lease will be for 5 years with

options.



Steve Tinscher of 2330 Lancelot Place, came to the podium. His property backs

up to this property. He is concerned about the future uses for this building

if it becomes vacant. He does not want bars, lounges, transitional housing, or

tattoo parlors to occupy this building.



Vice Chairperson Boyce asked why the applicants want to rezone to GC and not

RO. RO would be spot zoning.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Hodge

made a motion to approve this rezoning case because it is compatible with

existing uses and it consistent with the future land use map. Commissioner

Heinzelman seconded. It was approved unanimously.



IV. TEXT AMENDMENT:



ZC0811-2: A request for a Text Amendment to the UDO pertaining to Residential

Development Permits, Maintenance Bond, Maximum Sedimentation, Emergency Work

regarding notification, Temporary Patches, etc. The Planning Department is the

applicant.





Several changes need to be amended in the UDO. The aforementioned changes are:



X = Portions to be deleted

X = Portions to be added



Amend Section 8.2.2.A to delete reference to Residential Development Permit and

replace with Reserved

A. Reserved. Residential Development Permit. Single family residential

construction as part of a large development, such as a subdivision, and not

otherwise exempt shall require a residential development permit (RDP).



Amend Section 8.2.6.A Maintenance Bond Required by revising the end of the

section



A. Maintenance Bond Required. Prior to approval of a final subdivision plat

or issuance of a certificate of occupancy, a maintenance bond in a form

acceptable to the Department of Engineering is required for all public

improvements shown on the as-built surveys. The owner shall be responsible for

maintenance of all such public improvements for two years from the date of

issuance of the certificate of occupancy or final subdivision plat approval, as

applicable. acceptance of the improvements by Council.



Delete Section 8.4.6.C.14 Maximum Sedimentation



14. Maximum Sedimentation. Land-disturbing activity plans for erosion and

sedimentation control shall include provisions for control or treatment of any

source of sediments and adequate sedimentation control facilities to retain

sediments on-site or preclude sedimentation of adjacent streams by more than 25

nephelometric turbidity units for waters supporting warm water fisheries or by

more than 10 nephelometric turbidity units for waters classified as trout

streams.



Amend Section 8.4.6.E to delete reference to Lakes and Sediment Control and

replace with Reserved



E. Reserved. Lakes and Sediment Control. Lakes, either new or existing,

incorporated into a development shall not be used for sediment control and will

be classified and used as adjacent property. Siltation of new or existing lakes

will be treated as a violation of this Article.



Amend 8.8.4.A Emergency Work regarding notification



A. Emergency Work. In case of an emergency, the permittee shall notify the

City via telephone, fax or email the next working day if the emergency occurs

after normal business hours or the same day during normal business hours.

after the emergency work begins. In addition the permittee shall begin the

process of obtaining a written permit for the emergency work not later than one

working day after emergency work begins.



Amend Section 8.8.7.A.3 by deleting the last sentence



3. Compaction testing shall be done as directed by the City Engineer on a

random basis or may be required when there is suspicion that there may be a

problem with the backfill or that the compaction is not adequate or done in

accordance with the specifications. Testing shall be done by a certified

testing firm acceptable to the City. The City shall pay for initial random

testing. If compaction fails to meet the minimum standards of this ordinance,

then the contractor shall be responsible to pay for subsequent testing using

the City's testing firm until compaction meets minimum requirements of this

ordinance.



Amend Section 8.8.7.B.5 by changing ?B.5? to ?C?



C. Temporary Patches.



Per the previous amendment, amend Section 8.8.7.C (A) by changing ?may? to

?shall?



(A) The permittee shall fill the trench/cut to within 1 1/2 inches of the

roadway surface and place approved "cold mix" as a temporary patch, then open

the roadway for traffic.





Delete Section 8.8.14.B in its entirety and replace with the following:



B. When the work is done that requires the removal of an existing sidewalk

within 20 feet of a roadway intersection, the Director of Engineering shall

require that the sidewalks shall be replaced, including handicap ramps, in

compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sidewalks that are

replaced shall comply with the ADA concerning widths, access ramps, and

driveway crossings.



Delete Section 8.8.15.A in its entirety and replace with the following:



A. When the work is done that requires the removal of existing curb and

gutter at roadway intersections, and there is a sidewalk existing at that

location, a handicap ramp shall be installed as part of the replacement of the

curb and gutter. Sidewalks shall be reconstructed or modified in such a way as

to accommodate the new handicap ramp. If there is no sidewalk at that location

where the existing curb and gutter are removed, then a handicap ramp shall be

installed and said ramp shall terminate at a logical connection to a sidewalk

as determined by the Director of Engineering. All handicap ramps shall be

built in compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act.



Amend Section 8.8.18.A.1 by adding additional language to the end of the last

sentence



1. The permittee shall repair all open cuts immediately following completion

of construction with temporary patching material. Permanent patching material

shall be placed no later than 45 days following completion of work. This

includes repairs to existing driveways, sidewalks, roadways, etc. The

Department of Engineering shall be notified in writing upon completion of

permanent patching unless otherwise approved by the Director of Engineering.



Amend Section 8.9.1.A by deleting the word ?and? and replacing it with ?and/or?

as shown below:



A. Issuance of Permits. Building permits for all structures or interior

finishes are issued after complying with the applicable requirements of the

fire prevention and/or life safety code and the various health and building

codes.



Amend Section 12.1.1 by adding the ?Director of Inspections and Codes? and

?City Arborist? as shown below:



This Article sets out the structure for administering and enforcing this UDO,

including the responsibilities and procedures of the Director of Planning, the

Director of Engineering, the City Arborist, and the Director of Inspections and

Codes in carrying out enforcement activities.



Amend Section 12.3.2.A & B by adding the ?or the Director?s designee? as shown

below:



A. Responsibilities. The Engineering Director, or the Director?s designee,

is responsible for the receipt, review and processing of all applications for

permits related to land-disturbing activity, including the clearing and grading

of property and protection from soil erosion and sedimentation, and the

construction of streets and stormwater drainage facilities.



B. Enforcement. As the issuing agent for all permits related to land

development, the Engineering Director, or the Director?s designee, is

responsible for enforcement of all requirements and restrictions of these this

UDO related to the clearing and grading of subdivisions and development

projects, and the construction of streets and stormwater drainage facilities

and their continued maintenance and operation.



Amend Section 12.4.3.A by deleting ?Community and Economic Development

Director? and replacing ?Director of Planning, the Director of Inspections and

Codes, the Director of Engineering,? as shown below:



A. Inspection. If the Director of Planning, the Director of Inspections and

Codes, the Director of Engineering, or the City Arborist finds that a provision

of this UDO is being violated relating to the use or occupancy of land or

structures, lot standards, landscaping, buffers, tree preservation and

replacement, parking, signage or any other standard or provision, other than

land disturbing activities as may be authorized by a development permit, or

relating to a condition of approval established in connection with a grant of

variance or zoning change, the appropriate Enforcement Officer shall notify the

person responsible for such violation in writing.



Amend Section 12.5.4.A.1 by deleting ?or Community and Economic Development

Director? and replacing with ?Director of Planning, the Director of Inspections

and Codes, the Director of Engineering, or? as shown below:



1. Any person who violates any provisions of this Code, the rules and

regulations adopted pursuant hereto, or any permit condition or limitation

established pursuant to this Code or who negligently or intentionally fails or

refuses to comply with any final or emergency order of the Director of

Planning, the Director of Inspections and Codes, the Director of Engineering,

or the City Arborist issued as provided in these this UDO shall be liable for a

civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 per day.



Amend Section 13 Definitions regarding Personal services (2nd definition) by

adding the word ?care?



Personal care services means, for the purposes of regulating personal care

facilities, assistance with or supervision of essential activities of daily

living such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, and ambulating, and the

supervision of self-administered medication and similar services.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Hodge

made a motion to approve this Text Amendment as stated. Commissioner Smith

seconded. It was approved unanimously.





SPECIAL EXCEPTION: None.



VI: NEW BUSINESS: City Council is considering revising their schedule to limit

the council meeting to two meetings a month. If it is adopted it may alter the

PAC schedule. This should be resolved by the December 17, 2008 PAC meeting.



VII. OLD BUSINESS:



ADJOURNMENT: 9:50 a.m.











_______________________________

____________________________________

Karl Douglass, Chairperson Daniel Stegall, Zoning

Administrator

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