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
Staff Report
REZN-5-11-2069
- Applicant
- Jack Hayes
- Owner
- REC Ministries, Inc.
- Location
- 6003 Veterans Parkway
- Acreage
- 5 acres
- Current Zoning Classification
- GC (General Commercial)
- Proposed Zoning Classification
- RO (Residential-Office)
- Council District
- District 2 (Davis)
- PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
- Approval based on the fact that it is compatible with existing land uses.
- PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
- Approval based on the fact that it is compatible with existing land uses. The
request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan of Columbus. There are
similar uses in terms of residential multi-family developments in the area such
as Main Street Apartments. The proposed use would serve as an amenity to
students attending Strayer University. Furthermore there are several uses in
the vicinity that would support this proposed use such as a neighboring
self-storage facility, convenient stores and restaurants.
- Fort Benning's Recommendation
- N/A
- DRI Recommendation
- N/A
- General Land use
- Inconsistent
Planning Area A
Land Use Designation:
General Commercial/Light Manufacturing Industrial
- Environmental Impacts
- The property does not lie within a floodway and floodplain area. The developer
will need an approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development
Plan permit, if a permit is required.
- City Services
- Property is served by all city services.
- Traffic Impact
- The proposed project will not have a negative impact on the transportation
network. The Traffic Engineering Department has indicated that ingress and
egress from Veterans Parkway along with a decel lane must be approved by the
Georgia Department of Transportation. Two access points to this development
from within the Strayer University Campus have been deemed sufficient for this
development by the Traffic Engineering Department. According to the traffic
analysis form the existing GC (General Commercial) zoning district with viable
commercial uses would generate more traffic in turn causing an adverse affect
on the level of service for Veterans Parkway. The proposed RO (Residential
Office) zoning district with a residential multi-family use would not have an
adverse affect on traffic flow for Veterans Parkway in turn maintaining a level
of service C.
- Surrounding Zoning
- North ? GC (General Commercial)
South ? GC (General Commercial)
East ? Veterans Parkway
West ? GC (General Commercial) / LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial)
- Reasonableness of Request
- The request is not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan however it is
compatible with existing land uses. There are many existing land uses
(restaurants, self storage, higher education, medical services, etc.) in the
immediate vicinity that would serve the proposed multi-family development. The
Strayer University campus also may serve as a residential enticement for
possible students. Although the university has no ownership ties to the
apartments, the potential for a healthy relationship between the two entities
will be created. Furthermore, the proposed multi-family development will not
affect the level of service along Veterans Parkway and will be much less
intrusive than 5 acres of general commercial development. The designated
future land use for this area requires greater scrutiny and evaluation within
the Comprehensive Plan.
- School Impact
- Elementary age students would attend Allen Elementary School (PK-5), which has
435 students (capacity: 450). Middle School age students would attend Arnold
Middle School (6-8), which has 819 students (capacity: 650). High school age
students would attend Jordan High School, which has 740 students (capacity:
1475).
- Buffer Requirements
- The development is not required to place a buffer along the property lines
bordered by GC (General Commercial) zoning district.
- Attitude of Property Owners
- Thirty-two (32) Property owners within 300 feet of the subject properties were
notified of the rezoning request. The Planning Department has received one
comment in opposition to the request.
- Additional Information
- The applicant has requested to rezone the aforementioned property from GC
(General Commercial) to RO (Residential Office) zoning district. The subject
property is a 5-acre tract of land that will be subdivided from the parent
parcel, which currently accommodates the Strayer University Campus. According
to the site plan there three access points, one of which will require the
approval of the Georgia Department of Transportation for having a decal lane
and egress/egress to Veterans Parkway, one access point will be used for
emergency access. The applicant is proposing 72 units consisting of 24
one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units.
The proposed rezoning is accompanied by a letter requesting to amend the
Comprehensive Plan to permit a change in the land use designation of the
subject property from GC (General Commercial)/ LMI (Light Manufacturing
Industrial) zoning districts to RO (Residential Office) zoning district. The
applicant has indicated in the letter that an in-fill development would be a
more viable project for the subject property than taking a commercial retail
sales approach to development of the subject property.
- Attachments
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