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


3/12/2008
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: (VAR0802-1) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements at Parcels

B, C, & D, ?Replat of Watkins Estate?, Layfield Road.



Planning Recommendation: Approval



PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY



Applicant: TRHM, LLLP



Owner: Same



Acreage: 497.95 total acres



Current Zoning Classification: RE1 (Residential Estate 1)



Current Use of Property: Rural residential



Proposed Use of Property: Same



Planning District: Planning District 4



Future Land-Use: Rural Residential



Environmental Impacts: None



Surrounding Zoning: East ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1) / RE5 (Residential

Estate 5)

West ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

North ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)

South ? RE1 (Residential Estate 1)



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 large lot rural residential and its ability to provide a

primary right of entry via the existing private, unimproved section of

Layfield Road.



APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL



The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and

allow the unimproved, private section of Layfield Road to serve as the primary

right of entry onto the subject property. The proposed replat is consistent

with the RE1 minimum 43,560 square feet lot size requirement for newly created

lots.



The lots are being subdivided to accommodate three siblings who are settling

the estate of their mother. Each lot is well over 160.0 acres in size and will

not disrupt the existing land-uses in the area.



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 three (3) lots,; two (2) of 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 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 not a factor.



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 area 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 Unified Development

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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