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


10/9/2007
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: STAFF REPORT



Subject: (VAR0710-01) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements

at 1.14 acres lying in Land Lots 81 and 97, 8th Land District and Land Lot 288,

19th Land District.



Planning Recommendation: Approval



PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY





Applicant: Allan Kamensky



Owner: Emerald Ridge, LLC



Acreage: 1.14 acres



Current Zoning Classification: SFR1 ? Single Family Residential



Current Use of Property: Private Detention Pond



Proposed Use of Property: Dedicated Detention Pond



Planning District: Planning District 2



General Use: Residential



Environmental Impacts: None



Surrounding Zoning: East ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

West ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential)

North ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential)

South ? SFR1 (Single Family Residential)



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 based on the use

of the property as nonresidential, and its ability to provide a primary right

of entry via a 50-foot joint-use access easement.



APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL



The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and

allow a 50-foot access easement to serve as the primary right of entry to

access the detention pond.



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 not unique to either the property or the area.



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 a factor in the

location of the pond.



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,

Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department


cc: Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity


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