PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
August 3, 2011
A meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission was held Wednesday, August 3,
2011 in the Council Chambers on the Plaza Level of the Government Center.
Commissioners Present:
Chairperson Cathy Hodge
Commissioners: Zephaniah Baker
Walter Calhoun
Glen Heinzelman
Ralph King
Staff Members: Will Johnson ? Planning Department Chief and Tina Trant ?
Planning Technician.
Commissioners Absent: Travis Chambers (unexc.) David Johnson (unexc.), Ronny
Smith (exc.)
Others Present: Rev. Thomas Mills, Jr., Arthur Porter, Ralph and Onieda
Robinson.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Hodge called the meeting to order at 9:06a.m. She
explained the rezoning process to the audience.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 20, 2011 minutes. Commissioner King made a motion
to approve the minutes. Commissioner Heinzelman seconded. They were approved
unanimously.
ZONING CASES:
1. REZN 6-11-2260: A request for a Special Exception Use for a place of
worship located at 4057 Pope Road. The current zoning is Residential Estate.
The property will be used for a place of worship with 250 seats or more.
Spirit, Truth and Liberty Ministries, Inc. is the applicant.
Spirit, Truth, and Liberty Ministries, Inc. has submitted an application for
the Special Exception Use cited above. The property is located in an RE1
(Residential Estate 1) zoning district. The site for the proposed place of
worship is approximately 6.31 acres. The applicant has submitted a site plan,
which is attached. Places of worship in excess of 250 seats are permitted in
an RE1 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?
Highway 80 is classified as a major arterial (divided 4-lane). Pope Road is a
local street that connects Highway 80 to Chattsworth Road. Ingress/egress of
the site may need to be improved to accommodate the flow of traffic during the
hours of service for the 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?
The site plan indicates one ingress/egress point, which should maintain
adequate flow of traffic to and from the subject property. Pope Road is
adequate for public safety access and volume of traffic flow.
(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?
Services such as water, sewer, utilities (excluding sewer), police, and fire
protection will be adequate and serve the proposed use at this location.
Furthermore, there will be no impact on neighboring schools in the immediate
area.
(4) Protection from Adverse Affects: Are or will refuse, service, parking and
loading areas on the property be located or screened to protect other
properties in the area from such adverse effects as noise, light, glare or odor?
Parking and loading areas shall be set forth per the UDO requirements.
Off-street parking will be utilized on-site. No buffer requirement exists for
RE1 property abutting RE1 property. External dumpsters/compactors and lighting
are addressed in the UDO. Noise impacts are addressed in the City Code.
Proximity to Fort Benning?s firing ranges may have an impact on use of the
property as a place of worship. Fort Benning has been notified of the pending
Special Exception Use request.
(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?
The hours of operation for this use will not have an adverse impact on the
neighboring properties in the area.
(6) Compatibility: Will the height, size, or location of the buildings or other
structures on the property be compatible with the height, size, character, or
location of buildings or other structures on neighboring properties?
The height, size and location of the proposed structure will not be compatible
with other structures on neighboring properties. The area is predominantly
rural and existing houses are residential in use and not comparable to a
commercial building. The applicant has indicated the building that houses the
sanctuary is proposed as 3,600 square-feet.
Council District: District 6 (Allen)
Fifteen (15) property owners within 300 feet of the property were notified by
mail of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Department
has not received any comments regarding this request.
Reverend Thomas Mills, Jr. came to the podium. This is a culmination of eight
years of work for the church. Rev. Mills introduced the Board of Directors to
the audience. The main building will be approx. 8200 square feet and will
house the sanctuary and fellowship hall. Building 2 will be 4200 square feet
and house the rehearsal rooms and classrooms. The buildings will be connected
and parking will be in the rear.
Chairperson Hodge asked for discussion and a motion. Commissioner Baker made a
motion to approve this Special Exception Use. Commissioner King seconded. The
motion to approve was carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: 9:20 a.m.
___________________________ ________________________________
Cathy Hodge, Chairperson Will Johnson, Planning Chief
Attachments
No attachments for this document.