Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

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

Website: www.columbusga.gov/planning


2/14/2007
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: (VAR0702-01) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements at 8502

McKee Road.



Planning Recommendation: CONDITIONAL APPROVAL



PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY





Applicant: Linda Brown



Owner: Same



Acreage: 3.80 acres



Current Zoning Classification: RE1 ? Residential Estate 1



Current Use of Property: Undeveloped land



Proposed Use of Property: Undeveloped land



Planning District: Planning District 4



General Use: Residential



Environmental Impacts: None



Surrounding Zoning: East ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

West ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

North ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

South ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)



Traffic Impact: None



Planning Department

Recommendation: CONDITIONAL APPROVAL based upon the fact that the strict

enforcement of the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance is not

applicable to the subject property. The recommended condition is: the property

in question shall have dual access for fire safety purposes, which are: the

proposed easement on the south side of 8502 McKee Road and the existing

easement on the south side 8588 McKee Road.



Reasonableness of Request: The proposed variance is reasonable because it does

not disrupt the existing rural character of the neighborhood.



APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL



The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and

allow a 30-foot access easement to serve as the primary right of entry onto the

subject property. The proposed replat is consistent with the RE1 minimum 1.0

acre or 43,560 square feet lot size requirement for newly created lots.



Section 7.3.5 (F.2) of the Columbus Unified Development Ordinance states, ?all

lots shall front on a minimum of 25 feet of dedicated public right-of-way or

upon a right-of-way that has received the legal status as such.? The proposed

subdivision of the existing lot creates one (1) lot that does not meet the

minimum street frontage requirement as stated above.



VARIANCE CRITERIA



In order to grant the requested variances, the City Council must make a

decision that is based upon all of the following findings required by the

variance regulations of the Columbus Zoning Ordinance:

The granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public safety,

health or welfare or injurious to other property;



The granting of this variance will not adversely affect neighboring properties.



The conditions upon which the request for a variance is based are unique to the

property for which the variance is sought and are not applicable generally to

other property;



The conditions are unique to the property and the area. The applicant owns the

property to the north, 8588 McKee Road, which she uses for raising

cows/cattle. Cows/cattle are not permitted in the RE1 zoning district, which

makes the use of her property legal non-conforming. The property subject to

the variance cannot be combined with the property at 8588 McKee Road because of

the legal non-conforming status.



Because of the particular physical surroundings, shape or topographical

conditions of the specific property involved, a particular hardship to the

owner would result, as distinguished from a mere inconvenience, if the strict

letter of these regulations are carried out; and



The topography and physical surroundings of this property are irrelevant

regarding this property.



The variances will not in any manner vary the provisions of the Zoning

Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan or Official Map.



Granting of the variance will not vary the provisions of the Unified

Development Ordinance. It will preserve the existing character of the

neighborhood and retain the scope of the Unified Development Ordinance and

Comprehensive Plan.



The granting of this variance to waive the minimum street frontage requirement

will not detract from the intent and spirit of the Zoning Ordinance and will

not adversely impact the overall objectives of the area as outlined in the

Comprehensive Plan.



Respectfully,

Respectfully,

Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department



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