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


2/6/2008
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: (SEU0710-1) Special Exception Use request to establish a cemetery west of 1485

Schatulga Road.



Green Acres Cemetery, Inc. submitted an application for the Special Exception

Use cited above. The properties are located in an SFR2 (Single Family

Residential 2) District. The purpose of the Special Exception Use is to expand

the existing cemetery use to adjacent properties as a Special Exception Use. A

cemetery is permitted in an SFR2 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. Ingress / egress

shall remain along Schatulga Road and Doris Drive only.



(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. Pedestrian safety would

be inadequate due to lack of pedestrian facilities.



(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?



There will be no impact to public facilities.



(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?



It will not adversely affect surrounding properties.



(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 will not affect the surrounding properties.



(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 proposed use will be compatible with neighboring properties.



Twenty-five (25) property owners within 300 feet of the parcel were notified by

letter of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Department

received several comments opposing the Special Exception Use request.



The application for a Special Exception Use meets the criteria for approval,

therefore, the Planning Advisory Commission and the Planning Department

recommend that the Council conditionally approve the use. The recommended

condition is: a 30-foot undisturbed natural buffer shall remain along the north

property line of the property subject to the Special Exception Use.



Respectfully,

Respectfully,

Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department



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