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


10/13/2006
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: (VAR0609-01) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements at 3250

Old River Road.



Planning Recommendation: APPROVAL



PLANNING & ZONING HISTORY





Applicant: Steve Fuller



Owner: Same



Acreage: 10.0 acres



Current Zoning Classification: RE1 ? Residential Estate 1



Current Use of Property: Single family residential



Proposed Use of Property: Single family residential



Planning District: Planning District 1



General Use: Residential



Environmental Impacts: None

Surrounding Zoning: RE1? Residential Estates 1

RE1 ? Residential Estates 1

RE1 ? Residential Estates 1

RE1 ? Residential Estates 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 because it does

not disrupt the existing rural character of the neighborhood.



APPLICANT?S PROPOSAL



This application is for a replat to subdivide an existing parcel totaling 56.29

acres into 2 lots. There is one house on the full 56.29 acres and the owner is

attempting to subdivide the area where the house is located. The lot with the

house would be reduced to a 10.0 acre lot and the remaining 46.29 acres would

remain undeveloped.



The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage requirements and

allow an existing private drive to serve as the primary right of entry onto the

subject property. The project site is located off of Old River Road. The

proposed replat is consistent with the RE1 minimum 1.0 acre or 43,560 square

feet lot size requirement 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 one (1) lot which 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 the property, but are unique to the area. The

northern parts of Old River Road are subdivided into large lots with access

easements as opposed to public streets because of the terrain.



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 prohibit public

street access to Old River Road.



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,

Respectfully,

Rick Jones, AICP
Director, Planning Department


cc: Jeff Keefe, Moon Meeks


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