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

July 20, 2005



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, July 20, 2005

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



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Shields, Vice-Chairperson Mullin, Chris

Henson, Joe Alexander, Berry Henderson, Brad Dodds, Karl Douglass, and Bob

Crane.



Staff Members: Will Johnson, Zoning Administrator and Tina Trant, Recorder.



Commissioners Absent: Michael Eddings.



Others Present: Melissa Scruggs, Bill Montgomery, Susan Smith, Daniel Smith,

Charles Maddox, Brian Grier, Becky Carter, Wayne Eicher, Henry Daniel.





I. CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Shields called the meeting to order at 9:05

a.m. He explained the rezoning process.



II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dodds made a motion to accept the

minutes of June 15, 2005. Commissioner Henderson seconded. They were accepted

unanimously.



III. NEW REZONING CASES:



1. ZC0504-9: A request to rezone the property located at 4219 Warm Springs

Road. The current zoning is GC (General Commercial) District. The proposed

zoning is RO (Residential Office) District. The purpose of the rezoning is for

apartments. Scott Copley is the Applicant.



Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is inconsistent

with the future land use

map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 6), which shows General Commercial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied 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.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 4,423 trips per day and

will increase to 4,682 trips per day. The level of service will remain at A

(4,700 trips per day) for Warm Springs Road.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for

commercial usage.



This development could average about 5 to 10 children of various ages.

Elementary age students would attend Gentian Road Elementary, which has 441

students, capacity 500. Middle school age students would attend Fort Middle

School, which has 605 students, capacity 575. High school age students would

attend Hardaway, which has 1,249 students, capacity 1,250.



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

property lines bordered by the SFR2 zoning district. The three options under

Category C are: 1. 20 feet with a certain amount 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 wood fence or

masonry wall. 3. 30 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



It is not a DRI.



Twenty one (21) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Division did not receive any comments concerning this rezoning request.



Condition needed: No external trash dumpsters/compactors shall be located

along the west property line.



There is no additional information.



Scott Copley, from the Copley Group, came to the podium. They want to rezone

to build 120 apartment units. There will be five buildings with one-bedroom

units, three stories each.



Donna Foland, owner, came to the podium. Rental rates have not been calculated

yet.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Mullin

made a motion to approve this rezoning request based on the fact is compatible

with existing land use. Commissioner Alexander seconded. The case was

approved unanimously.



The following case 0506-2 is being heard before 0506-1 since the applicant is

not present.



ZC0506-2: A request to rezone the property located at 5671 & 5689 Billings

Road. The current zoning is SFR1 (Single Family Residential 1) District. The

proposed zoning is SFR3 (Single Family Residential 3) District. The purpose of

the rezoning is for single family residential. Wright Wade is the Applicant.



Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is consistent

with the future land use

map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 3), which shows Low Density Residential.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied 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.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 2,988 trips per day and

will increase to 3,093 trips per day. The level of service will remain at A

(3,900 trips per day) for Billings Road.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for

residential usage.



This development could average about 10 to 20 children of various ages.

Elementary age students would attend Waddell Elementary, which has 636

students, capacity 525. Middle School age students would attend Midland Middle

School, which has 976 students, capacity 900. High school age students would

attend Shaw, which has 1,010 students, capacity 1,200.



There will be no buffer requirement.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



It is not a DRI.



Twenty-one (21) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Division received several comments opposing this rezoning request.



There are no conditions needed.



There is no additional information.



Mr. Wright Wade, applicant, came to the podium. Mr. Wade wants to develop 11

lots on this 3.4 acres. The homes will be 1600 to 1800 sq. ft. The cost will

be $180,000 to $225,000. The neighbor that lives behind this property has

asked Mr. Wade to cut down some dead trees along his property line because he

does not want the trees to fall on his property.



Susan Smith, 5700 Billings Road, came to the podium. She stated that she did

not get a letter. However, Mr. Wade spoke to residents in the neighborhood and

they knew about the rezoning and when the PAC meeting was being held. She is

opposed to the rezoning. She does not want smaller homes on smaller lots

across the street from her property. She would also like trees to be

preserved.



Bill Montgomery, 5134 Stonegate Drive, came to the podium. He invited everyone

to a neighborhood meeting to discuss this rezoning case. He wants a 50 foot

buffer zone.



Wayne Eicher, 5034 Stonegate Drive, came to the podium. He is opposed to the

rezoning. He states that all the trees will be cut down. He also talked about

the traffic problem, and schools being at capacity.



Daniel Smith, 5700 Billings Road, came to the podium. He is against the

rezoning. He does not want 11 houses on three acres across the street from his

13 acres.



Commissioner Henderson asked Mr. Wade if he would be willing to go to SFR2

instead of SFR3. Mr. Wade said no.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Crane made

a motion to approve this case based on the facts that it is consistent with the

future land use map, it won?t have an impact on traffic, and added conditions:

1. a minimum of 20 foot undistured natural buffer on the left side of the

property and a 20 foot natural vegetative buffer on the north side of the

property, and 2. no more than 11 lots to be built on the property. Vice

Chairperson Mullin seconded. The vote was two (Crane, Mullin) to approve and

four (Douglass, Henderson, Alexander and Dodds) to deny the case. The motion

failed.



Commissioner Henderson made a motion to deny the case because it is not

compatible with existing land use and the neighborhood is opposed to the

rezoning. Commissioner Dodds seconded. The vote was four (Henderson, Dodds,

Alexander and Douglass) in favor of the motion to deny the case and two (Crane,

Mullin) opposed to the denial.







ZC0506-3: A request to rezone the property located at 1801 Victory Drive. The

current zoning is LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial) District. The proposed

zoning is GC (General Commercial) District. The purpose of the rezoning is for

retail. Larry Love is the Applicant





Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is inconsistent

with the future land use

map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 9, which shows Industrial/Warehousing.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied 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.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 31,810 trips per day and

will remain at 31,830 trips per day. The level of service will remain at A

(27,400 trips per day) for Victory Drive.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for

commercial usage.



There will be no school impact.



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

property lines bordered by the LMI zoning district. The three options under

Category C are: 1. 20 feet with a certain amount of canopy trees, understory

trees, and shrubs / ormamental 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.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



It is not a DRI.



Six (6) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning request.

The Planning

Division did not receive any comments concerning this rezoning request.



There are no conditions needed.



There is no additional information.



Larry Love, applicant, came to the podium. Mr. Love has a motel that is

looking at this site. The old zoning M-1 allowed this use. The new GC, which

this property was changed to in the new UDO, does allow this use.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass

made a motion to approve this case based on the reconsideration of land use of

the UDO. Commissioner Dodds seconded. It was approved unanimously.







ZC0506-1: A request to rezone the property located at 2705 Manchester

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

proposed zoning is GC (General Commercial) District. The purpose of the

rezoning is for a convenience store. James M. Knight is the Applicant.



Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is inconsistent

with the future land use

map of the Comp Plan (Planning District 5), which shows General Commercial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied 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.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 45,610 trips per day and

will remain at 45,610 trips per day. The level of service will remain at

(45,610 trips per day) for Manchester Expressway.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for

commercial usage.



There will be no school impact.



There will be no buffer requirement.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



It is not a DRI.



Fourteen (14) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Division did not receive any comments concerning this rezoning request.



There are no conditions needed.



The applicant is seeking to redevelop this site to reconfigure the gas station

for a convenience sales. The new zoning designation does not allow this use.

He wants to change the zoning to allow this use.



Tony Wright, applicant, came to the podium. He leases this property from Ted

Alford.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Alexander

made a motion to approve this case based on the facts that is compatible with

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

Commissioner Henderson seconded. It was approved unanimously.



ZC0506-4: A request to rezone the property located at 7176 Village Loop and

7301 & 7333 Whitesville Road. The current zoning is SFR1 and SFR2 (Single

Family Residential 1 & 2) Districts. The proposed zoning is SFR3 (Single

Family Residential 3) District. The purpose of the rezoning is for single

family residential. Brian Grier is the Applicant.





Mr. Will Johnson read the Staff Report for this case. This case is consistent

with the Comp Plan (Planning District 2), which shows Low Density Residential.



It is consistent with Policy Statements, Residential Policy Statement #3.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does not lie within a studied 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.



The property is served by all city services.



The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the

transportation network. The current traffic count is 10,250 trips per day and

will increase to 10,908 trips per day. The level of service will remain at C

(11,800 trips per day) for Whitesville Road.



The site shall meet the codes and regulations of the Columbus Consolidated

Government for

Residential usage.



This development could have a maximum of 130 children of various ages.

Elementary age students would attend Double Churches Elementary, which has 859

students, capacity 650. Middle School age students would attend Double

Churches Middle School, which has 867 students, capacity 675. High school age

students would attend Northside which has 1,286 students, capacity 1,100.



There will be no buffer requirement.



It is not within Fort Benning?s notification range.



It is not a DRI.



Sixty-five (65) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Division received some comments concerning opposition, and some concerning

access to the property.

There is a petition with 14 names on it.



There are no conditions needed.



There is no additional information.



Brian Grier, Applicant, came to the podium. He wants to put the entrance to

this property, not on Whitesville Road but on Whitesville Walk. There will be

70 lots if the entrance is allowed on Whitesville Walk. 73 lots will be

developed if the entrance is allowed on Whitesville Road. The cost for the

homes will be $190,000 to $200,000.



Commissioner Crane had a concern about the trees and if the land would be clear

cut. Mr. Grier wondered if Commissioner Crane was implying that all the trees

would be cut down.



Becky Carter came to the podium. She stated that Mr. Grier was easy to work

with when he developed Whitesville Walk. He is concerned about the

environment.



Melissa Scruggs, 7410 Whitesville Road, came to the podium. She lives directly

across from Whitesville Walk. She is opposed to this rezoning, as she was

Whitesville Walk a few years ago. All the trees were cleared to build

Whitesville Walk, except for the property that bordered Becky Carter?s property.

She is also concerned about the traffic situation that will be created with the

addition of these 70-73 new houses.



Henry Daniel, 1225 Chaplin Drive, came to the podium. He is opposed to the

rezoning because of the lot size and number of houses.



Charles Maddox, Chaplin Drive, came to the podium. He is opposed to the

rezoning because of the trees that will be cut down.



Charles Snowden, 1317 Chaplin Drive, came to the podium. He is opposed to the

rezoning because of tree loss. He wants greenspace to be preserved.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Alexander

recused himself. Commissioner Henson voted in his place. Commissioner Dodds

made a motion to approve this rezoning request based on the facts it is

consistent with the future land use designation, it is compatible with existing

land uses, there are no conditions. Commissioner Mullin seconded. The vote was

two to approve (Dodds, Mullin) and four to deny (Crane, Henderson, Douglass,

Henson). The motion failed.



Commissioner Crane made a motion to deny this case based on traffic that will

be affected, and overcrowding of schools in this area. Commissioner Henson

seconded. The vote was four to approve denial (Crane, Henson, Douglass,

Henderson) to two (Dodds, Mullin). The request was denied.





NEW BUSINESS:



OLD BUSINESS:



VI. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.









______________________________ _______________________________

Derrick Shields, Chairperson Will Johnson,

Zoning Administator

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