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

May 21, 2008



A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, May 21, 2008

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



Commissioners Present:

Chairperson Karl Douglass

Vice Chairperson Joe Alexander

Commissioners: Lucy Sheftall Scott Boyce

Cathy Hodge Micheal Eddings

Gladys Ford Ronny Smith



Staff Members: Will Johnson - Planning Department Chief

John Cantrell ? Zoning Administrator

Tina Trant ? Planning Technician



Commissioners Absent: Chris Henson



Others Present: Jennifer Blackburn, Brandi Williams, Mary A. Milford, Rosetta

Demming, John Thayer, Les Lewis.



CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Karl Douglass called the meeting to order at 9:02

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



APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 7, 2008. Commissioner Sheftall made a motion to

approve the minutes. Commissioner Eddings seconded. They were approved

unanimously.



ZONING CASES:



ZC0804-2: A request to rezone .75 acres located at 1049 McBride Drive. The

current zoning is Single Family Residential 2. The proposed zoning is

Neighborhood Commercial. The property will be used for a hair salon. Brandi

Williams is the applicant.



Mr. John Cantrell read the Staff Report for this case. This property is

located in Planning District 11. The Land Use Designation shows Low Density

Residential.



Policy Statements: N/A.



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 SFR2 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.



Twenty-two (22) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning Department did not receive any comments regarding this

rezoning request.



Conditions: None.



Additional information: None.



Brandi Williams, applicant, 1413 Staunton Drive, came to the podium. She wants

to use this property for a hair salon. Mary A. Milford, 4502 LaSalle Drive,

grandmother to Brandi Williams, owns the property. She has given permission to

Brandi to do whatever she needs to do to open the salon.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Eddings

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

compatible with existing uses. Commissioner Boyce seconded. It was approved

unanimously.





ZC0804-3: A request to rezone 11.126 acres located at the south west corner of

Veterans Parkway and Williams Road. The current zoning is Single Family

Residential 1. The proposed zoning is General Commercial. The property will be

used for a pharmacy. Greenstone Properties is the applicant.



Mr. John Cantrell read the Staff Report for this case. This property is

located in Planning District 2. The Land Use Designation shows Mixed Office

/ Commercial.



Policy Statements: N/A.



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 LMI 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.



Eighteen (18) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning Department did not receive any comments regarding this

rezoning request.



Conditions: None.



Additional information: None.



Les Lewis, applicant, came to the podium. This property will be used for a

Walgreen?s Pharmacy and additional retail.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Hodge

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

compatible with existing uses. Vice Chairperson Alexander seconded. It was

approved unanimously.





ZC0804-4: A request to rezone 4.70 acres located at 5032 Buena Vista Road.

The current zoning is Single Family Residential 2. The proposed zoning is

Residential Multi-Family 1. The property will be used for multi family.

Rosetta Demming is the applicant.



Mr. John Cantrell read the Staff Report for this case. This property is

located in Planning District 11. The Land Use Designation shows Park /

Recreation.



Policy Statements: N/A.



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 residential usage.



School Impact: None.



Buffer Requirement:

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

property lines bordered by the SFR3 & SFR2 zoning districts. The three options

under Category B are:

15 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.

20 feet undisturbed natural buffer.



Fort Benning Recommendation: None.



DRI Recommendation: None.



Twenty-five (25) property owners within 300 feet were notified of this rezoning

request. The Planning Department did not receive any comments regarding this

rezoning request.



Conditions: None.



Additional information: None.



Rosetta Demming, 3553 Ambassador Drive, applicant, came to the podium. This

property will be used to build townhouses. Her surveyor said that 32

apartments or 27 townhouses could be built on this property. She wants to

build 27 townhouses. They will be gated.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Eddings

made a motion to approve this rezoning case. Commissioner Ford seconded. It

was approved unanimously.





IV. SPECIAL EXCEPTION:





SEU0804-1: A request to install a 175 foot monopole at 6 Mutec Drive.

Jennifer Blackburn is the applicant.



Jennifer Blackburn submitted an application for the Special Exception Use cited

above. The property is located in an LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial)

District. The purpose of the Special Exception Use is to construct a wireless

communications facility. The applicant wishes to construct a 175-foot monopole

cell tower. New towers are permitted in an LMI zoning district only on a

site-specific basis upon approval of the Council based upon the following

criteria and conditions:



(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?



N/A









(4) Security: Will all towers and related equipment be enclosed by

decay-resistant security fencing not less than six feet in height, and equipped

with anti-climbing devices as appropriate to prevent unauthorized access?



Yes, the compound will be secured by a six-foot chain link fence, with three

rows of class III barbed wire.





(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?



N/A



(6) Height Limitations: Does the height of the proposed structure conform to

the restrictions listed in the UDO?



Yes, the proposed tower conforms to the maximum allowable height of 200 feet

for monopoles in an LMI zoning district.





(7) Proximity to Residential Uses: Does the proposed tower conform to the

minimum distance requirement from residential structures and residential

district boundaries as set forth in the UDO?



Yes, the proposed tower is more than 300 feet from the nearest residential

structure.



(8) Landscaping and Screening: Does the site plan incorporate proper

landscaping and screening of the compound and equipment area?



The site plan submitted for the project does show landscaping of the area.



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 about the Special Exception Use request.



Jennifer Blackburn, applicant is representing Verizon Wireless. They want to

build a 175? monopole on this property.



Booker T. Henry came to the podium in opposition. He was not clear on where

the tower would be built. He thought the property was Single Family

Residential.



Chairperson Douglass asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Eddings

made a motion to approve this Special Exception Use. Commissioner Hodge

seconded. It was approved unanimously.



V. NEW BUSINESS: None.



VI. OLD BUSINESS: None.



VII. ADJOURNMENT: 9:32 a.m.





_______________________________

____________________________________

Karl Douglass, Chairperson John Cantrell, Zoning

Administrator



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