Subject: (VAR0609-02) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements at 7701
Chattsworth Road.
Planning Recommendation: APPROVAL
PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY
Applicant: Joe Johnson, JJ & G
Owner: Development Authority of
Columbus
Acreage: 19.76 total acres
Current Zoning Classification: HMI (Heavy Manufacturing /
Industrial)
Current Use of Property: Undeveloped
Proposed Use of Property: Industrial development
Planning District: Planning District 3
General Use: Industrial / Warehousing
Environmental Impacts: None
Surrounding Zoning: North ? GC (General
Commercial)
South ? HMI (Heavy
Manufacturing / Industrial)
East ? HMI (Heavy
Manufacturing / Industrial)
West ? HMI (Heavy
Manufacturing / Industrial)
Traffic Impact: None
Planning Department Recommendation: APPROVAL based upon the fact that the
strict enforcement of the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance is
not applicable to the subject property.
Reasonableness of Request: The proposed variance is reasonable because it is a
commercial property (in which lease lots are permitted without frontage) and
financing cannot be completed until a final plat is recorded.
APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL
This application is for a replat to subdivide an existing parcel totaling
156.48 acres into 6 lots. Tract 2B is being subdivided to accommodate FedEx.
It does not have road frontage. Tracts 3A and 3B currently are used as access
easements but will be converted to a public street in the near future.
The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and
allow a temporary access easement to serve as the primary right of entry onto
Tracts 2b and 3B. The project site is located off of Chattsworth Road. The
proposed replat is consistent with the HMI minimum feet lot size requirement
(15,000 SF) 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 two (2) lots which do 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 because the property cannot be sold until a final
plat is recorded. However, the variance is temporary as a public street will
be built on Tracts 3A and 3B.
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
Physical surroundings, shape, or topographical conditions are not a factor in
this variance request.
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 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,
A RESOLUTION
NO. ___________
A RESOLUTION GRANTING A VARIANCE REQUEST TO WAIVE THE MINIMUM STREET FRONTAGE
REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO PLAT TWO LANDLOCKED LOTS AT 7701 CHATTSWORTH ROAD
WHEREAS, the final plat for 7701 Chattsworth Road has been submitted
for approval by the Planning Director; and,
WHEREAS, the applicant requests a variance to allow an access easement to
satisfy street frontage requirements in order to plat two landlocked lots at
7701 Chattsworth Road; and,
WHEREAS, Article 3, Section 7.3.5(F.2) of the Columbus Unified
Development Ordinance requires that all lots front on a minimum 25 feet of
dedicated public right-of-way or upon a right-of-way that has received the
legal status of such, except as provided for within specific zoning districts
in Section 7.4.2; and,
WHEREAS, Article 4, Section 7.4.2(A) of the Columbus Unified
Development Ordinance states that private streets, reserve strips or access
easements are prohibited except in multi-family and nonresidential developments
or as otherwise approved by the City Council on a case-by-case basis; and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Department has reviewed the request and finds
that the criteria for approval of a hardship variance have been met, and
recommends approval
________
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES:
That the criterion of Article 3, Section 7.3.5(F2), which provides that all
lots front on a minimum 25 feet of dedicated public right-of-way, is hereby
waived at 7701 Chattsworth Road.
That the criterion of Article 4, Section 7.4.2(A), which states that private
streets, reserve strips or access easements are prohibited except in
multi-family and nonresidential developments, is hereby waived for the proposed
landlocked lot at 7701 Chattsworth Road.
________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
day of
, 2006, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting _______
Councilor Anthony voting _______
Councilor Davis voting _______
Councilor Henderson voting _______
Councilor Hunter voting _______
Councilor McDaniel voting _______
Councilor Pugh voting _______
Councilor Rodgers voting _______
Councilor Suber voting _______
Councilor Woodson voting _______
______________________________
Tiny B. Washington Robert Poydasheff
Clerk of Council Mayor