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


Memorandum
Date: 8/4/2010
To:
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council

Subject: (VAR 7-10-4657) Hardship variance to waive street frontage requirements at 1808

Blanchard Boulevard and 1807 Victory Drive.


Applicant's Proposal
This application is for a replat to subdivide an existing 4.022-acre tract of

land. The applicant?s intent is to subdivide the land for commercial.

Proposed Parcel 3A will contain 1.706 acres and will combine the southern

portion of 1808 Blanchard Boulevard with the existing lot at 1807 Victory

Drive. Proposed Parcel 3B will contain an area of 2.19 acres and retain street

frontage along Blanchard Boulevard. Parcel 3C will contain 0.126 acre and will

be subdivided from Parcel 3A. Parcels 3A and 3C will be served by an access

easement. The applicant is proposing to waive public street frontage

requirements and allow a 30-foot access easement to serve as the primary right

of entry onto the subject properties. The project site is located off of

Victory Drive and Blanchard Boulevard. The proposed replat is consistent with

the GC (General Commercial) lot size requirement of 4,000 square feet for newly

created lots.



Section 7.3.5 (F2) 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 two (2) lots, which does not meet the

minimum street frontage requirement as stated above.
Planning & Zoning
Applciant
Lavoy Powell
Owner
Lavoy Powell
Acreage
1.832 total acres
Current Zoning Classification
GC ? General Commercial
Current Use Of Property
Commercial
District
C
General Use
Vacant Lot
Environmental Impacts
None
Surrounding Zoning
GC (General Commercial)/ LMI (Light Manufacturing Industrial)
Traffic Impact
None
Planning Departments Recommendtion
APPROVAL based upon the fact that the strict enforcement of the provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance is not applicable to the subject property.
Attitude of Property Owners
Not Applicable
Other Recommendations
  • Engineering: None
  • Public Safety: None
  • Public Works: None
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;
    As such, the granting of the proposed variance will not adversely affect the

    character, livability, or appropriate development of abutting properties or the

    surrounding area, and will not be detrimental to the public welfare or

    injurious to other property.
  • 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;
    Parcel 3C would have primary access off of an existing 30-foot access

    easement. The access easement would serve as the primary right-of-entry for

    Parcel 3C, which does not have street frontage. Parcel 3B will front on a

    dedicated right-of-way. Parcel 3A is currently served by a 30-foot access

    easement from a precious variance. Since Parcel 3A is being expanded, the new

    addition needs a variance as well. For this reason, a variance is requested to

    waive the minimum street frontage requirement for the aforementioned parcels.

    The access easement would abut the subject properties along the northwestern

    line of Parcel 3A and southwestern line of Parcel 3C.
  • 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
    There are no physical conditions that cause a hardship.
  • 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 not alter the existing character of the

    subdivision 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


Enclosure / Attachment
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