Planning Commission

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 4, 2021 MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Anderson, Sara Beresford (chair), Matthew Hall (vice-chair), Alice Kinman, Kristen Morales, Taylor Pass, Lucy Rowland, Monique Sanders and Joey Tucker MEMBERS ABSENT: Catherine Goodrum STAFF PRESENT: Rick Cowick and Brad Griffin (Planning); and Lisa Pappas (Attorney’s Office) GENERAL BUSINESS Ms. Beresford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Introduction of Staff reports and all other documents submitted to the Planning Commission at this meeting into the official record. Ms. Rowland moved to introduce all reports and documents into the official record. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. Approval of October 7, 2021 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Ms. Kinman made a motion for approval with change. Mr. Tucker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 3. MACORTS Update and Public Comment. No report was provided and no public comments were received. OLD BUSINESS 1. 250 DUBLIN STREET – PD-2021-07-2253 Type II – Planned Development Amendment Petitioner: Josh Koons / Koons Environmental Design Owner: Athens Land Trust, Inc. Request: Amendment to RS-5 (PD) (Single-Family Residential, Planned Development) Tax ID: 172C2 H044 Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with recommendation for approval with conditions. For: Heather Benham, Josh Koons Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed stormwater management and phasing. Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend approval with the following condition: 1. The tree management plan shall be revised to add one additional street tree on or near the property lines between lots 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8, for a total of four additional trees, with such trees located outside the intersecting driveway sight triangles. Mr. Hall seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. 1310 SPRING VALLEY ROAD – ZONE-2021-09-2585 Type II – Rezone Petitioner: Gerry Whitworth / Whitworth Land Corp. Owner: Christian Eunice Mills Trust Requests: From AR (Agricultural Residential) to E-I (Employment-Industrial) Tax ID: 224 006C, p/o 222 001 Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with recommendation for approval with condition. For: Gerry Whitworth, Grant Whitworth Against: Angela Greene, Marlene McKee, Colista Quarterman, Alex Marchante, Mike Garland, Kevin Greene, Lisa Rodgers Rebuttal: Grant Whitworth Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed history of the subject property zoning, the condition of Spring Valley Road, the unknown future property use, the proposed zoning compatibility with the Future Land Use designation, the light manufacturing uses of the E-I zone and the heavy industrial uses of the I zone, and a possible additional front building setback from Spring Valley Road. Motion: Ms. Kinman made a motion to recommend approval with condition. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed 6 to 1 (Pass in opposition). NEW BUSINESS 1. 2855 & 2865 RIVERBEND ROAD – ZONE-2021-07-2242 Type I – Rezone Petitioner: Jerry Wood / DuSouth Owner: Sprucewood Builders, LLC Request: From Traditional Neighborhood to Mixed-Density Residential; From RM-1 (Mixed Density Residential) to RM-2 Tax ID: 181C4 A001A & 181C4 A001B Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial. For: Charles Bowden Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed affordability and the possible residential types of development. Future Land Use Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Morales seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Zoning Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Morales seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. 160 & 180 MELLWOOD DRIVE; 165 MILL CENTER BOULEVARD – ZONE-2021-07-2251 Type I – Rezone Petitioner: Jerry Wood / DuSouth Owner: Gibbs Capital, LLC Request: From Traditional Neighborhood and General Business to Mixed-Density Residential; From RS-8 (Single-Family Residential) and C-G (Commercial-General) to RM-2 (Mixed Density Residential) Tax ID: 073 A010, 073 A010A & 073 A047 Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with recommendation for denial. For: Jerry Wood Against: Joanne Stange The Planning Commission discussed the absence of a binding plan and the need for a better plan; the provision of affordable housing; the proximity to transit, shopping and employment; the prominent parking lots and lack of tree canopy; and, the concern with additional traffic using the substandard Mellwood Drive. Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to table the request. Ms. Morales seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 3. 600 PULASKI STREET – SUP-2021-10-2893 Type II – Special Use Permit Petitioner: Lori Bork Newcomer / Architectural Collaborative Owner: 600 Pulaski Street, LLC Request: Special Use in C-N (Commercial-Neighborhood) Tax ID: 163C4 B002 Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with recommendation for approval with conditions. For: Lori Bork Newcomer, Josh Koons Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed compatibility with the neighborhood, the single driveway, affordability, the impracticality of preserving the old warehouse, and buffering the southern property line. Motion: Ms. Kinman made a motion to recommend approval with conditions: 1. Should field verification of existing sewer lines determine a conflict with proposed building locations, the developer shall relocate the existing sewer line to accommodate the proposed building location per approval of the Public Utilities Department. 2. Special Use Permit approval shall apply only to the proposed development within the limits of disturbance as shown on the binding site plan. Ms. Morales seconded the motion, which passed 7 to 1 (Tucker in opposition). 4. TEXT AMENDMENT - RS zone standards Mr. Griffin presented the proposed text amendment. For: None Against: None Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend approval. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed 7 to 1 (Anderson in opposition). OTHER BUSINESS 1. Planning Commission Chair’s Report – None 2. Planning Director's Report – The Planning Director reported recent Mayor and Commission zoning actions. The Planning Commission discussed the choices of the applicant for the denied Little Oak Street proposal. 3. Miscellaneous announcements – Mr. Hall announced that he would be the applicant for a pending zoning request. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.