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

March 15, 2006



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, March 15,

2006 in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.



Commissioners Present: Chairperson Derrick Shields, Vice Chairperson Mullin,

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

Crane, Michael Eddings.



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



Commissioners Absent: none.



Others Present: James Brown, Jean Brown, James Pritchett, Ethel Pritchett,

Cathy Walker, Rick Gordon.



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

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



II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 7, 2005. Commissioner Douglass made

a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Crane seconded. They were

approved unanimously.



III. SPECIAL EXCEPTION CASES: None



IV. REZONING CASES:



1. ZC0602-1: A request to rezone the property located at 3151 Williams Road.

The current zoning is Light Manufacturing / Industrial. The proposed zoning is

General Commercial. The property will be used for single a shopping center.

Rick Gordon 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 Comprehensive Plan for Planning District

2. The Land Use Designation shows Mixed Office / Commercial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



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.



The property is served by all city services.



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

transportation network.



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

Government for commercial usage.



School Impact: none.



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

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

three options under Category C are: 1. 20 feet with a certain amount of 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 a wood fence or masonry wall. 3. 30 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: None.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Ten (10) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Department did not receive any comments concerning this rezoning request.



Conditions needed: None.



Additional information: It is the Uniway building on Williams Road. Most of

the uses for the building are commercial.



Rick Gordon, applicant, came to the podium. Most of the uses now for the

building are retail uses where before they were Light Manufacturing uses.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass

made a motion to approve the rezoning case based on the fact that it is

consistent with the future land use map. Commissioner Crane seconded. The case

was unanimously approved.





ZC0602-3: A request to rezone the property located at 720 Brown Avenue and

2108 Amos Street. The current zoning is Residential Multi-Family 1. The

proposed zoning is Residential- Office. The property will be used for an

office and apartment. Jean Brown 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 Comprehensive Plan for Planning District

8. The Land Use Designation shows Mixed Office / Commercial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



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.



The property is served by all city services.



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

transportation network.



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

Government for commercial usage.



There is no school impact.



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: 1. 20 feet with a certain amount of 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 a wood

fence or masonry wall. 3. 30 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: None.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Thirty-eight (38) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this

rezoning request. The Planning

Department received one request for information concerning the rezoning

request.



Conditions needed: None.



There is no additional information.



Jean Brown, applicant, came to the podium. Presently they are located at 845

Brown Avenue. They want to move their real estate rental office to this

building.



Elma Jones, 2109 7th Street, came to the podium. She does not want commercial

property encroaching into the neighborhood.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Henderson

made a motion to approve the rezoning case based on the facts that it is

consistent with the future land use map and it is compatible with existing land

uses. Vice Chairperson Mullin seconded. The case was unanimously approved.





ZC0602-4: A request to rezone the property located at the north portion of

1701 Williams Road. The current zoning is General Commercial. The proposed

zoning is Residential Office. The property will be used for an addition to

proposed Greystone Falls apartment complex. Timber Creek Management, LLC 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 Comprehensive Plan for

Planning District 2. The Land Use Designation shows Neighborhood Commercial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



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.



The property is served by all city services.



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

transportation network.



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

Government for commercial usage.



School impact: This development could average about 5 to 7 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 High which has 1,386 students, capacity 1,100.



Buffer requirement: none.



Fort Benning Recommendation: none.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Ten (10) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Department received two comment concerning the rezoning request, one opposing.



Conditions needed: None.



Additional information: none.



Will White, 2001 Country Club Road, applicant, came to the podium. There will

be an additional 38 units added to Greystone Falls Apartment Complex. It will

have access off Williams Road and another road to be constructed.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Alexander

made a motion to approve the rezoning case based on the facts that even though

it is not consistent with the comp plan, it is the best use of the land.

Commissioner Henderson seconded. The case was unanimously approved.





ZC0603-1: A request to rezone the property located at 3725 ? 3741 Cusseta

Road. Formerly the old Mockingbird Mobile Home Park. The current zoning is

General Commercial. The proposed zoning is Residential Multi-Family 2. The

property will be used for apartments. David Cummings 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 Comprehensive Plan for

Planning District 10. The Land Use Designation shows Commercial /Industrial.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does lie within a floodplain and floodway area. The developer

will need an

approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development Permit.



The property is served by all city services.



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

transportation network.



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

Government for commercial usage.



School impact: This development could average about 10 to 15 children of

various ages. Elementary age students would attend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Elementary which has 548 students, capacity 513. Middle school age students

would attend Baker Middle School, which has 457 students, capacity 700. High

school age students would attend Carver High which has 1,044 students, capacity

1,675.



Buffer requirement: The proposed development shall have a Category A buffer

requirement along all property lines bordered by the GC and RO zoning

districts. The 3 options under Category A are: 1. 5 feet with a certain

amount of shrubs / ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet and a wood fence or

masonry wall. 2. 10 feet with a certain amount of understory trees and shrubs /

ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet. 3. 20 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: none.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Forty-eight (48) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Department did not receive any comments concerning the rezoning request.



Conditions needed: None.



Additional information: none.



David Cummings, applicant, came to the podium. They want to rebuild this area

with a nice apartment complex.



Robert McMaster, 502 East Leslie Court, Woodstock, Georgia, came to the

podium. He is the builder of the apartment complex. They completed Victory

Crossing in 2005. This development will be the same product or close to it.

They will have 172 units.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass

made a motion to approve the rezoning case based on the facts that even though

it is not consistent with the comp plan, it is compatible with existing land

uses. Commissioner Crane seconded. The case was unanimously approved.





ZC0603-2: A request to rezone the property located at 3051Victory Drive and

3230 Clarabelle Street. The current zoning is General Commercial. The

proposed zoning is Residential Multi-Family 2. The property will be used for a

senior apartments complex. David Cummings 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 Comprehensive Plan for

Planning District 9. The Land Use Designation shows General Commercial and

Medium Density Residential.



Policy Statements are not addressed.



It is compatible with existing land uses.



The property does lie within a floodplain and floodway area. The developer

will need an

approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development Permit.



The property is served by all city services.



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

transportation network.



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

Government for commercial usage.



School impact: If this is not a senior complex, this development could average

about 10 to 15 children of various ages. Elementary age students would attend

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary which has 548 students, capacity 513.

Middle school age students would attend Baker Middle School, which has 457

students, capacity 700. High school age students would attend Carver High

which has 1,044 students, capacity 1,675.



Buffer requirement: The proposed development shall have a Category A buffer

requirement along all property lines bordered by the GC and RO zoning

districts. The 3 options under Category A are: 1. 5 feet with a certain

amount of shrubs / ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet and a wood fence or

masonry wall. 2. 10 feet with a certain amount of understory trees and shrubs /

ornamental grasses per 100 linear feet. 3. 20 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: none.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Twenty-six (26) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning

Department did not receive any comments concerning the rezoning request.



Conditions needed: None.



Additional information: none.



David Cummings, applicant, came to the podium. They want to build a senior

apartment complex



Robert McMaster, 502 East Leslie Court, Woodstock, Georgia, came to the

podium. He is the builder of the senior apartment complex. They completed

Victory Crossing in 2005. This development will be the same product or close

to it. It will be restricted to seniors 55 and over. There will be 78 units.



James Pritchett, 3137 Clarabelle Street, came to the podium. He is in favor of

the rezoning if it is for senior citizens. Was also concerned about children

in the area walking over to his neighborhood from the new complex.



Cathy Walker, 3151 Clarabelle Street, came to the podium. She was concerned

about children in the area and also if Clarabelle Street would be opened up to

the complex.



Titania Turner, 3021 Clarabelle Street, came to the podium. She was concerned

also about the same things.



Mr. Turner, 3021 Clarabelle Street, came to the podium. He was concerned about

nothing to do in the area. It was suggested to Mr. Turner that he needs to

contact his councilperson for this area.



Chairperson Shields asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Douglass

made a motion to approve the rezoning case based on the facts that even though

it is not consistent with the comp plan, it is compatible with existing land

uses. Commissioner Crane seconded. The case was unanimously approved.





ZC0603-3: Text Amendment Change ? Retail Developments of Community

Significance 20,000 SF ? 49,999 SF. The Planning Department is the

applicant.



ZC0603-4: Text Amendment Change ? Retail Developments of Community

Significance 50,000 SF ? 99,999 SF. The Planning Department is the

applicant.





These two cases will be voted on together. At the request of Columbus Council,

the Planning Department is proposing regulations on retail developments of

community significance ranging in size from 20,000 SF to 49,999 SF and a

separate ordinance dealing with 50,000 SF to 99,999 SF. Staff formed a

committee in Spring 2005 to address issues dealing with big box development

over 100,000 SF. The committee was reconvened in 2006 to analyze Council?s

request concerning developments or stores below 100,000 SF. The attached

purposed ordinance reflects recommendations of staff and the committee. The

Planning Department is supporting the new ordinance. The major difference in

the 20,000 ? 49,999 SF ordinance is that it takes out the studies that were

required in the 100,000 SF developments. Also the some parking and pedestrian

requirements are taken out. In the 50,000 ? 99,999 SF ordinance, there are

less studies required also.



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

a motion to approve these two ordinances with the corrections pointed out in

the ordinance. Commissioner Henderson seconded. They were approved unanimously.







V. NEW BUSINESS: This is Commissioner Henderson?s last meeting.



OLD BUSINESS:



VIII. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned a 10:35 a.m.









______________________________ _______________________________

Derrick Shields, Chairperson Will Johnson,

Planning Division Chief

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