Hearings Board

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY HEARINGS BOARD SUMMARY MINUTES MARCH 10, 2021 3:00 P.M. 120 W. DOUGHERTY ST MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Gazlay, M. Tamaine Jordan, Michael Lord, Richard Martin, Joseph Powell, Carrie Pucko (Pucko left at ~3:34 p.m., prior to voting) MEMBERS ABSENT: Jon Biron STAFF PRESENT: Gavin Hassemer, Aron Hall (Planning); Michael Petty (Attorney’s Office) GENERAL BUSINESS: Mike Lord called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. 1. Introduction of staff reports and all other documents submitted to the Hearings Board at the meeting into the official record. M. Tamaine Jordan moved to introduce all reports and documents into the official record. Richard Martin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. Approval of the January 13, 2021 Hearings Board minutes. Joseph Powell made a motion for approval; M. Tamaine Jordan seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS 1. 175 Old Epps Bridge Road VAR-2020-10-2926 Petitioner: Minesh K. Patel for V Cube LLC Agent: Wesley Dowdy Zoning: C-G (Commercial-General) Tax ID: 122C1 J012 Request: A. Variance to increase the maximum height of a wall sign. Mr. Hassemer presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial. FOR: Wesley Dowdy AGAINST: None MOTION: Joseph Powell made a motion to deny the variance; Richard Martin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 1. 1255 S. Milledge Avenue VAR-2021-02-384 Petitioner: John Barrett c/o Barrett Children Trust Agent: David Matheny of AMT, P.C. Zoning: C-N (Commercial-Neighborhood) Tax ID: 173A3 B010 Request: A. Variance to decrease the minimum percentage of landscaping required. B. Variance to eliminate the requirement for public sidewalk adjacent to a street. C. Variance to decrease the minimum number of street trees required. Mr. Hassemer presented the staff report with a recommendation for each variance. FOR: David Matheny AGAINST: None MOTION (Variance A): Joseph Powell made a motion to approve the variance with a condition that asphalt between the patio and S. Milledge Avenue be eliminated, as bounded by the drive aisle width for the entrance off of S. Milledge Avenue. M. Tamaine Jordan seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (Variance B): Richard Martin made a motion to approve the variance; Joseph Powell seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. (Variance C): M. Tamaine Jordan made a motion to approve the variance with two conditions. First, that the street trees planted along Morton Avenue are medium or large canopy; and second, that the variance only apply to the street trees along Morton Avenue rather than the entire parcel. Richard Martin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Planning Director's Report – Mr. Hassemer stated there would likely be an April 2021 Hearings Board Meeting. A reminder was made that multiple members have terms expiring later this year and are eligible for reappointment. This led to a brief discussion regarding the scheduled time of Hearings Board meetings and the possibility of adding alternate members in the case of absences. No action was taken. 2. Next scheduled meeting on April 14, 2021 Meeting was adjourned at 4:12 p.m.