Subject: Subject: (SEU0605-1) Special Exception Use request to operate a university or
college at 7200 North Lake Drive.
The George C. Woodruff Company submitted an application for the Special
Exception Use cited above. The property is located in an RO
(Residential-Office) District. The Planning Advisory Commission recommended
approval of the Special Exception Use request on June 7, 2006. A proposed text
amendment will allow universities and colleges as Special Exception Uses in RO
zoning districts. The purpose of the Special Exception Use is to operate a
university or college as a Special Exception Use. If the text amendment is
approved by Council, universities or colleges shall be permitted in an RO
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 onto North Lake Drive.
This street connects to a 4-way intersection at Double Churches Road, which
provides excellent access to Fortson Road, Double Churches Road, Veterans
Parkway, and JR Allen Parkway.
(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?
Peak time morning traffic on Double Churches Road should not be affected.
However, afternoon peak time may cause delays. The proposed use is expected to
adequately meet requirements for ingress and egress, internal circulation
(traffic and pedestrian), traffic volume, and public safety access. Pedestrian
traffic along North Lake Drive is good due to the low traffic volume and wide
sidewalks along said road. Public safety access is not a problem.
(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?
The proposed use is served by all city services. There will be no school
impact.
(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?
The proposed use is not expected to adversely affect neighboring properties.
Issues dealing with parking, loading, external dumpsters / compactors, and
light are addressed in the UDO. Noise impacts are addressed in the City Code.
(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 university/college will be open daily from approximately 9 AM to 10 PM. The
neighboring properties should not be affected by the proposed use.
(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 is in the back of an office complex and will be adjacent to
Hamilton Station apartment complex, which has multi-story units. The proposed
structures should not have a detrimental effect on neighboring properties.
Four (4) property owners within 300 feet of the parcel were notified by letter
of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Division has not
received any comments about 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 Division recommend
that the Council approve the use.
Respectfully,