PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
January 7, 2009
A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, January 7,
2009 in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.
Commissioners Present:
Chairperson Scott Boyce
Vice Chairperson Cathy Hodge
Commissioners: Travis Chambers
Karl Douglass
Micheal Eddings
Gladys Ford
Glen Heinzelman
Lucy Sheftall
Ronny Smith
Staff Members: Will Johnson - Planning Department Chief
Daniel Stegall ? Zoning Administrator
Tina Trant ? Planning Technician
Commissioners Absent: All commissioners were present.
Others Present: Barbara Fortson, Janice Baldwin, Marty Flournoy, Wright Wade,
Kenneth Canup, Brooks Yancey, Tom Queen, Tina Stephens, George Mize, Hugh
Sorrell, Doug Jefcoat, Fannie Boyd, David Erickson, David McMicken, Malinda
Evans, Randolph Schmidt, Mike Hudson, Sonny Lollar, Bob Weathers, Patricia
O?Neal.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Scott Boyce called the meeting to order at 9:02
a.m. He explained the rezoning process to the audience.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
ZONING CASE:
1. ZC0811-3: A request to rezone 3.1 acres located at 1100 10th Avenue. The
current zoning is LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial). The proposed zoning is
GC (General Commercial). The property will be used for a thrift store and
storage. Bob Weathers is the applicant.
Mr. Daniel Stegall read the Staff Report for this case.
Future Land Use Map: This case is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
This property is located in Planning District D. The Land Use Designation shows
Mixed Use.
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 RMF2 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: Thirteen (13) property owners within 300 feet
were notified of this rezoning request. The Planning Department did not receive
any comments regarding the request.
Conditions: None.
Additional information: None.
Chairperson Boyce stated that the Planning Department received a letter from a
former employee of the Mill Town Thrift Mall, Patricia O?Neal, about the
parking at the previous thrift mall (Bibb Mill). She feels there will be
enough parking.
Bob Weathers, 981 Biggers Road, came to the podium. He wants to use this
property to have a thrift store and storage. It will replace the thrift mall
that burned when the Bibb Mill burned in October 2008.
Wright Wade, 1401 Dinglewood Drive, came to the podium. He lives about 300
yards from this property and is in favor of the rezoning.
Chairperson Boyce asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass
made a motion to approve this rezoning case even though it is inconsistent with
the future land use map, it is compatible with existing land uses. Commissioner
Ford seconded. It was approved unanimously.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS:
2. SEU0812-1: Tina Stephens has submitted an application for a Special
Exception Use. The property is located in a RMF2 (Residential Multi Family 2)
District. The purpose of the Special Exception Use is to allow for the
operation of a Personal Care Home Type II:
(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.
(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?
There will be no impact to the transportation system, nor will there be any
impact to pedestrian safety.
(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 neighboring properties should not be affected by the proposed use.
(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 will be compatible with neighboring properties.
Thirty-four (34) property owners within 300 feet of the parcel were notified by
letter of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Department
has not received any comments concerning the Special Exception Use request.
Tina Stephens, 57 Matthews Road, Phenix City, is the applicant. She came to
the podium. This personal care home will house 7-10 children. The Georgia
Baptist Association has operated a home on this property previously. There
will be no parking restraints.
Chairperson Boyce asked for discussion and a motion. Vice Chairperson Hodge
made a motion to approve this Special Exception Use request. Commissioner
Chambers seconded. It was approved unanimously.
TEXT AMENDMENTS:
3. ZC0812-1: Text Amendment Changes to the UDO concerning Chapter 10. This
Text Amendment was tabled until the next meeting that will be February 4, 2009.
4. ZC0812-3: Text Amendment Change - Veterans Parkway Overlay District.
The Veterans Parkway Overlay District is proposed as additional requirements
for development along the northern portion of Veterans Parkway from Moon Road /
Williams Road to the Harris County line. A committee was created in March 2008
to draft this proposed overlay district.
Mr. Rick Jones, Planning Department Director, came to the podium to explain
this text amendment.
The overlay districts are an ongoing process. The first one was the panhandle
area, Highway 80 Panhandle District in which 1000 feet from the roadway will
have certain development requirements. There are a few other districts that
will need to be addressed later such as Victory Drive and the Wynnton area.
This discussion today does not include the widening of Veterans Parkway, even
though it will be widened in 7-10 years by Georgia Department of
Transportation. There are a few of the committee members in attendance today,
Barbara Fortson and Brooks Yancey. The purpose of the overlay district is for
aestetics only. Veterans Parkway is a major north/south route to the
community. It services Harris County to the north. The impression of the area
is important. The overlay will minimize clutter and improve access to the
properties.
The overlay district starts at Williams Road and Veterans Parkway and goes
north to the Harris County line. Property within 750 feet of Veterans Parkway
will be affected. This number came from the committee.
There will be multi-use driveways and curb cuts. There will side walks for
pedestrians or bicycles.
Brooks Yancey, 311 Lot 1 Double Churches Road, came to the podium. He was on
the Veterans Parkway Overlay Committee. He spoke on the meaning of the overlay
district. They worked on it for over nine months.
Kenneth Canup of 8464 Liberty Hall Drive, came to the podium. He is a
representative of the Rock Presbyterian Church, which owns property on Veterans
Parkway near Lullwater on which they will build a church. They are concerned
about the widening of Veterans Parkway and curb cuts.
Marty Flournoy came to the podium. He is a representative of several
properties in the area. He has problems with the overlay in Midland. He can?t
find a tenant that can meet the Highway 80 Overlay District requirements.
Jamie Baldwin, 4550 Almond Road, is concerned about the widening of Veterans
Parkway. It has nothing to do with the Veterans Parkway Overlay District.
Chris Wightman of 2847 17th Avenue came to the podium. He is concerned about
parking spaces, traffic issues and safety concerns.
David Erickson of 4809 Miller Road came to the podium. He represents property
in this area. He is opposed to the overlay district. He does not agree with
putting control in the hands of the Planning Director.
Commissioner Heinzelman made a motion to table this case. Commissioner Ford
seconded. It was approved to table this case.
ZC0812-2: A request to rezone the property located at 347, 348 & 361 Bragg
Smith
Street. The current zoning is RMF2 (Residential Multi-Family 2). The
proposed zoning is RMF1 (Residential Multi-Family 1). The property will be
used for single family residential. Columbus Habitat for Humanity is the
applicant.
Mr. Daniel Stegall read the Staff Report for this case.
Future Land Use Map: This property is located in Planning District D. The Land
Use Designation shows Mixed Use.
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: None.
Fort Benning Recommendation: None.
DRI Recommendation: None.
Attitude of Property Owners: Sixteen (16) property owners within 300 feet were
notified of this rezoning request. The Planning Department did not receive any
comments regarding the request.
Conditions: None.
Additional information: None.
Brooks Yancey, representative of the applicant, came to the podium. They want
to build houses on these properties.
Sara Shehane came to the podium. She explained that two of these houses will
be built with the sponsorship of Aflac. The other house will be a collegiate
build during Spring Break.
Chairperson Boyce asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass
made a motion to approve this case. It is compatible with existing land uses.
Vice Chairperson Hodge seconded. It was approved unanimously.
VI: NEW BUSINESS:
VII. OLD BUSINESS:
ADJOURNMENT: 11:22 a.m.
_______________________________
____________________________________
Scott Boyce, Chairperson Daniel Stegall, Zoning
Administrator
Attachments
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