Planning Commission

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JULY 7, 2022 MEMBERS PRESENT: Sara Beresford (chair), Sarah Gehring, Catherine Goodrum, Matthew Hall, Alice Kinman, Taylor Pass, Lucy Rowland and Joey Tucker MEMBERS ABSENT: Kristen Morales and Monique Sanders STAFF PRESENT: Rick Cowick, Brad Griffin and Stephen Jaques (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 June 2, 2022 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Mr. Tucker made a motion for approval. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 3. MACORTS Update and Public Comment. Mr. Griffin stated that a consultant is being hired to assist with an update of the Long Range Transportation Plan. OLD BUSINESS 1. 505 & 515 OLYMPIC DRIVE – PD-2022-03-608 Type I – Master Planned Development Petitioner: Michael Canady / Mill Creek Residential Owners: SFI Land, LLC & Wollmoor Properties, LLC Requests: From Employment Center to Mixed Density Residential; From E-I (Employment-Industrial) & I* (Industrial Zoning with Condition) to RM-1 (PD) (Mixed Density Residential, Planned Development) Tax ID: 164 021 & 164 024H Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial of both requests. For: Michael Canady, Grant Whitworth Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the lack of commercial and transit services in the area and the negative impacts of introducing residential use into the industrial area. Future Land Use Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Zoning Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. 100, 106, 179 & 185 TIMOTHY PARK LANE – PD-2022-03-610 Type II – Planned Development Amendment Petitioner: Scott Haines / W&A Engineering Owner: Keystone Custom Homes, LLC Request: Amendment to C-N (PD) (Commercial-Neighborhood, Planned Development) Tax ID: 123A8 B001, 123A8 B098, 123A8 F001 & 123A8 F002  Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval. For: Justin Crighton, Mike Castronis Against: Kathy Krueger Rebuttal: Justin Crighton Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the proposed return to the originally approved number of single-family lots and the review of driveway locations by the Transportation and Public Works Department. Motion: Mr. Tucker made a motion to recommend approval with the following condition: 1. Prior to Mayor & Commission consideration, the application report shall be revised to denote the inclusion of 185 Timothy Park Lane in the proposed Planned Development amendment and to correct the misidentification of tax parcel 123A8 B098. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 3. 165 MILL CENTER BOULEVARD; 160 & 180 MELLWOOD DRIVE – PD-2022-03-613 Type I – Master Planned Development Petitioner: Jerry Wood Owner: DuSouth, LLC Requests: From General Business and Traditional Neighborhood to Mixed-Density Residential; From RS- 8 (Single-Family Residential) & C-G (Commercial-General) to RM-2 (PD) (Mixed Density Residential, Planned Development) Tax ID: 073A 010, 010A & 047 Mr. Jaques presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval of the Future Land Use request and denial of the zoning request. For: Jerry Wood Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the appropriateness of additional residential development in the vicinity, the proposed housing type and the green space location, and compared the proposed design with the proposed Mixed Density Residential designation. Future Land Use Motion: Mr. Tucker made a motion for approval. Mr. Hall seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Zoning Motion: Ms. Rowland made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed 4 to 3 (Gehring, Pass & Taylor in opposition). NEW BUSINESS 1. 1000 BLOCK OF HULL ROAD – ZONE-2021-12-3511 Type I – Rezone Petitioner: Michael B. Thurmond / Armentrout Matheny Thurmond, PC Owner: CJB Athens, LLC Requests: From General Business and Rural to Mixed Density Residential; From C-R (Commercial-Rural) to RM-1 (Mixed Density Residential) Tax ID: 213 018B Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval.  For: Bret Thurmond Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the appropriateness of the proposed Future Land Use designation due to the rapid development of the vicinity and sanitary sewer availability, as well as adjacent properties sharing the same Future Land Use designation, with others having recent Special Use approvals for multifamily development. Future Land Use Motion: Mr. Hall made a motion to recommend approval. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Zoning Motion: Mr. Tucker made a motion to recommend approval with the following conditions: 1. A sealed survey with metes and bounds around the subject property area shall be provided prior to Mayor and Commission consideration. Said survey shall require review and approval of the ACC staff and be recorded prior to the issuance of any permits for the development of the subject property. 2. Any development plan shall provide for the extension of Talley Crossing across the full width of the subject property per the ACC Official Transportation Corridor Concept Map subject to the review and approval of the ACC Transportation & Public Works Department. 3. Any development plan for the subject property shall include a public or private street connection from Talley Crossing to Hull Road and connection to the recently approved development at 1005 Hull Road. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. 3231 & 3331 LEXINGTON ROAD - SUP-2022-04-870 Type I – Amendment to Special Use Permit Petitioner: Katie Kleibl / Schaffer Owner: Bells Food Market, Inc. Request: Amendment to Special Use in C-G (Commercial-General) Tax ID: 233B4 B001C & 233B4 B001D Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial. For: J. Johnson, Lance Cooper Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the proposed restaurant design and primary orientation. 1st Motion: Mr. Tucker made a motion to recommend approval. Ms. Gehring seconded the motion, which failed 3 to 4 (Goodrum, Hall, Kinman and Rowland in opposition). 2nd Motion: Mr. Hall made a motion to table. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed 6 to 1 (Gehring in opposition). 3. 2325 COMMERCE ROAD – ZONE-2022-05-1427 Type II – Rezone Petitioner: Robert Shields Owner: Habersham Partners I, LLC Request: From AR (Agricultural Residential) to C-R (Commercial-Rural) Tax ID: 102 019 Mr. Jaques presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial.  For: None Against: None Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the lack of reasons in the application report for amending the zoning classification. Motion: Mr. Hall made a motion to recommend denial. Mr. Tucker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 4. 229 MEIGS STREET – SUP-2022-06-1477 Type II – Special Use Permit Petitioner: E+E Architecture Owner: Bottleworks Parking, LLC Request: Special Use in C-D (WE) (Commercial-Downtown, West End Downtown Design Area) Tax ID: 171A1 O002 Mr. Jaques presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval with conditions. For: Chris Evans, John Keeble and Mark Wilson Against: Liz DeMarco, Kyle Tibbs Jones Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the appropriateness of the proposed development in the Downtown area, the positive use of structured parking and the ability to convert ground-floor dwelling units into additional commercial space. Motion: Ms. Kinman made a motion to recommend approval with the following conditions: 1. A water & sanitary sewer capacity evaluation shall be submitted to and approved by the Public Utilities Department. 2. The site plan shall be revised to denote the proposed water and sanitary sewer line connections. 3. The site plan shall be revised to denote additional right-of-way dedication along Meigs Street and West Hancock Avenue per the standards of the Transportation and Public Works Department. 4. The site plan shall be revised to denote the proposed floor area ratio (FAR). 5. The site plan shall be revised to provide the required sidewalk along the Newton Street frontage. Ms. Rowland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 5. 347 WEST HANCOCK AVENUE – SUP-2022-06-1480 Type II – Special Use Permit Petitioner: David W. Matheny / AMT, PC Owner: 347 Downtowner, LLC & The Hancock House, LLC Request: Special Use in C-D (WE) (Commercial-Downtown, West End Design Area) Tax ID: 171A2 E001A Mr. Cowick presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval with conditions. For: Bret Thurmond, Alan Cleveland Against: Liz DeMarco, Kyle Tibbs Jones and Stephanie Lynn Rebuttal: Bret Thurmond Discussion: The Planning Commission discussed the appropriateness of a fraternity use in the Downtown area.  Motion: Mr. Hall made a motion to recommend approval with the following conditions: 1. Off-site parking agreement(s) meeting the minimum parking requirements of Sec. 9-10-4 and the standards of Section 9-30-8 shall be approved in form by the ACC Attorney and recorded by the applicant prior to permitting. 2. The Special Use Permit shall expire 12 months after approval by the Mayor and Commission, at which time the fraternity shall cease operations on the subject property. Mr. Tucker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS 1. Planning Commission Chair’s Report – No report 2. Planning Director's Report – Mr. Griffin stated that more information will be forthcoming about industrial zone properties from the Economic Development Department and also about housing starts versus population growth. 3. Miscellaneous announcements – None The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.