STAFF REPORT
REZN-5-11-2069
Applicant: Jack Hayes
Owner: REC Ministries, Inc.
Location 6003 Veterans Parkway
Acreage: 5 acres
Current Zoning Classification: GC (General Commercial)
Proposed Zoning Classification: RO (Residential-Office)
Current Use of Property: Undeveloped
Proposed Use of Property: Apartments
Council District: District 2 (Davis)
Planning Advisory Commission's Recommendation: Approval based on the fact that it is compatible
with existing land uses.
Planning Departments Recommendation: Approval based on the fact that it is compatible with
existing land uses. The request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
of Columbus. There are similar uses in terms of residential multi-family
developments in the area such as Main Street Apartments. The proposed use would
serve as an amenity to students attending Strayer University. Furthermore there
are several uses in the vicinity that would support this proposed use such as a
neighboring self-storage facility, convenient stores and restaurants.
Fort Benning's Rcommendation: N/A
DRI Rcommendation: N/A
General Land Use: Inconsistent
Planning Area A
Land Use Designation:
General Commercial/Light Manufacturing Industrial
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 Plan permit, if a permit is required.
City Services: Property is served by all city services.
Traffic Impact: The proposed project will not have a negative impact on the
transportation network. The Traffic Engineering Department has indicated that
ingress and egress from Veterans Parkway along with a decel lane must be
approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Two access points to this
development from within the Strayer University Campus have been deemed
sufficient for this development by the Traffic Engineering Department.
According to the traffic analysis form the existing GC (General Commercial)
zoning district with viable commercial uses would generate more traffic in turn
causing an adverse affect on the level of service for Veterans Parkway. The
proposed RO (Residential Office) zoning district with a residential
multi-family use would not have an adverse affect on traffic flow for Veterans
Parkway in turn maintaining a level of service C.
Surrounding Zoning: North ? GC (General Commercial)
South ? GC (General Commercial)
East ? Veterans Parkway
West ? GC (General Commercial) / LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial)
Reasonableness of Request The request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
however it is compatible with existing land uses. There are many existing land
uses (restaurants, self storage, higher education, medical services, etc.) in
the immediate vicinity that would serve the proposed multi-family development.
The Strayer University campus also may serve as a residential enticement for
possible students. Although the university has no ownership ties to the
apartments, the potential for a healthy relationship between the two entities
will be created. Furthermore, the proposed multi-family development will not
affect the level of service along Veterans Parkway and will be much less
intrusive than 5 acres of general commercial development. The designated
future land use for this area requires greater scrutiny and evaluation within
the Comprehensive Plan.
School Impact Elementary age students would attend Allen Elementary School (PK-5),
which has 435 students (capacity: 450). Middle School age students would attend
Arnold Middle School (6-8), which has 819 students (capacity: 650). High
school age students would attend Jordan High School, which has 740 students
(capacity: 1475).
Buffer Requiremnts
The development is not required to place a buffer along the property lines
bordered by GC (General Commercial) zoning district.
Attitude of Property Owners: Thirty-two (32) Property owners within 300 feet of the
subject properties were notified of the rezoning request. The Planning
Department has received one comment in opposition to the request.
Additional Information: The applicant has requested to rezone the aforementioned property
from GC (General Commercial) to RO (Residential Office) zoning district. The
subject property is a 5-acre tract of land that will be subdivided from the
parent parcel, which currently accommodates the Strayer University Campus.
According to the site plan there three access points, one of which will require
the approval of the Georgia Department of Transportation for having a decal
lane and egress/egress to Veterans Parkway, one access point will be used for
emergency access. The applicant is proposing 72 units consisting of 24
one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units.
The proposed rezoning is accompanied by a letter requesting to amend the
Comprehensive Plan to permit a change in the land use designation of the
subject property from GC (General Commercial)/ LMI (Light Manufacturing
Industrial) zoning districts to RO (Residential Office) zoning district. The
applicant has indicated in the letter that an in-fill development would be a
more viable project for the subject property than taking a commercial retail
sales approach to development of the subject property.
Attachments: Aerial Land Use Map
Planning Area A Future Land-Use Map
Traffic Analysis
Site Plan
Attachments