Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS





REGULAR MEETING - 2:00 P.M. ? APRIL 4, 2007





The Regular Meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals was held Wednesday, April 4,

2007 at 2:00 P.M., on the 1st Floor of the Government Center Annex in the

conference room, 420-10th Street. Mr. Billy Edwards, Board Chairman, called

the meeting to order. The board members present were:



Mr. Ralph King

Mr. Perry Borom

Mr. Wright Wade

Mr. Willie Lewis, Jr.





Also present representing the Inspections and Code Enforcement Department was

Mr. Danny Cargill, Secretary of the Board, and Mrs. Millicent Burden, Recording

Secretary. Ms. Tracy Hall was also present representing the Planning

Division.



VARIANCES:



Case No. 07-V017?-Granted:

Richard Jessie presented the appeal of 5907 Gleneden Drive, for a variance to

reduce the side yard setback requirement from 8 ft to 2 ft. The property is

zoned SFR2.



Mr. Jessie stated that the variance is to build a carport and patio cover.

There is currently no carport on the property, only a slab. Part of the

carport will be over an existing slab and he will have to pour extra concrete.

The water will runoff on the front and back of the house. Mr. Jessie also

stated that they would be adding gutters to assist the French drains that are

in the rear of the house. All construction will match the existing materials

as much as possible.



There was no opposition presented to this appeal.



Mr. Lewis made a motion to grant the appeal based on the statement that this

structure will have gutters. Mr. Wade confirmed the motion. Motion was

granted unanimously.







Case No. 07-V018--TABLED:

Appeal of Bridget E. Spruill, 3328 Flintlock Drive, for a variance to reduce

the side yard setback requirement from 8 ft to 2 ft. The property is zoned

SFR3.



Mr. Lewis made a motion to table this appeal due to lack of representation.

Mr. King confirmed the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.





Case No. 07-V019--Granted:

Seth Barbaree presented the appeal of 7924 Aurora Drive for a variance to

reduce the minimum lot width requirement from 75 ft to 65.11 ft. The property

is zoned SFR2.



Mr. Barbaree stated that he bought this home about 3 months ago out of

foreclosure at the courthouse. It has a 130 ft wide lot and he would like to

split the lot in half. He plans to build two new homes on the lots. Both lots

meet the 10,000 square ft requirement but not the width requirement. There are

other lots on the street that range between 65 ft and 75 ft in width.



The Planning Division recommended approval of this variance request.



There was no opposition presented to this appeal.



Mr. King made a motion to grant the appeal stating that there are other lots in

the neighborhood with the same size lots and it would not interfere with the

overall objective of the area. Mr. Wade confirmed the motion. Mr. Edwards

added that the Planning Division also has approved this request. Motion was

granted unanimously.





Case No. 07-V020?Granted:

Herschel Saxon presented the appeal of #1 Lismore Court, for a variance to

reduce side yard setback requirement from 8 ft to 18 in. The property is zoned

SFR2.



Mr. Saxon stated that he has an awning that he uses to cover his car and boat.

Before it was installed, he had a metal frame with a tarp thrown over it, which

was very unsightly. He presented pictures of the awning along with a letter

from next-door neighbor in support of the variance. The water runoff goes

toward his driveway and then across his lawn.



There was no opposition presented to this appeal.



Mr. Wade made a motion to grant the appeal stating that the appellant presented

a statement from the neighbor in support of the request. Mr. Lewis confirmed

the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.





Case No. 07-V021--Granted:

Thomas H. Mills, Jr. and Turner McCrary, Jr. presented the appeal of 10350

Macon Road, for a variance to increase the total square footage of a sign from

15 ft to 64 ft; and to erect a temporary sign, which is prohibited in a

residential zone. The property is zoned RE1.



Mr. Mills stated that he is the pastor of the church that has recently

purchased 22 acres of land in the area and would like to erect a sign that

would be visibly seen from the road referencing the upcoming facility. The

projection date for the ground breaking would be approximately 12-18 months,

after which the temporary sign would be taken down and a permanent sign will be

erected.



Mr. Edwards mentioned his concern about the timeframe of the temporary sign and

suggested we should be specific on the amount of time approved. Mr. McCrary

and Mr. King agreed on the timeframe to be 24 months from the date of the

hearing.



Mr. Lewis reiterated to the appellants that prior to the deadline from this

request if granted, if there needed to be an extension granted, they would need

to re-apply for a variance.



Mr. King confirmed that if they decided to put up a permanent sign, which is

non-conforming, they would have to apply for another variance as well.



There was no opposition presented to this appeal.



Mr. King made a motion to grant this appeal for a temporary sign for 24

months. Mr. Wade confirmed the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.





Case No. 07-V022--Denied:

Appeal of Supertel Limited Partnership, 2935 Warm Springs Road, for a variance

to remove the existing variance concerning the parking space requirement. The

property is zoned GC.



***SPECIAL NOTE*** The attorney representing Supertel submitted a letter to the

Board of Zoning Appeals in lieu of their appearance asking the Board to grant

their request. The letter was read during the meeting and is currently on file

in the Inspections and Code Department and available for viewing by request.



Mr. King made a motion to deny this appeal stating that there were additional

questions that were unanswered due to lack of representation and did not

express any reasons why they were requesting the change in the variance. Mr.

Wade confirmed the motion. Motion carried 2-1.



Case No. 07-V023--Granted:

Warren Mason and Craig Rinehart presented the appeal of 5122 Pierce Chapel

Road, for a variance to increase the number of signs allowed from 1 to 8; and

to increase the square footage of each sign to exceed the 5 ft allowed per

sign. The property is zoned RE.



Mr. Mason stated that they had just completed their building program and moved

into their new facilities a little over a month ago. They need assistance to

try to control the traffic flow with the members and visitors. The signage

they are requesting will assist them with that task by directing them around

the property. He presented detailed drawings to the board to allow them to

visually see the location of each sign and in which direction they lead.



There was no opposition presented to this appeal.



Mr. King made a motion to grant this appeal stating that the signs have been

done in good taste and the church has been working with the engineering

department to ensure that all the signs were in their proper place to aid in

the direction of the traffic flow. Mr. Wade confirmed the motion. Mr. Edwards

mentioned that it was not uncommon for the board to approve these type of

requests from churches. Motion was granted unanimously.





Mr. King made a motion to accept the minutes for the months of February and

March. Mr. Lewis confirmed the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.



Mr. Lewis made a motion to excuse Mr. Borom from the meeting due to personal

matters. Mr. King confirmed the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.



Mr. Wade made a motion to nominate Mr. Ralph King as Vice-Chairman of the

Board. Mr. Lewis confirmed the motion. Motion was granted unanimously.



There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned

at 2:56 p.m.













____________________ __________________

Billy Edwards Bill Duck

Chairperson Secretary





_____________________ __________________

Ralph King Danny Cargill

Vice Chairperson Acting Secretary





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