Planning Commission

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 3, 2023 - 6:00 P.M. 120 W. Dougherty Street MEMBERS PRESENT: Matthew Hall (chair), Alice Kinman (vice-chair) Sara Beresford, Catherine Goodrum, Sarah Gehring, Kristen Morales, Monique Sanders, Taylor Pass, and Joey Tucker MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Griffin, Joanne DeJausserand, Wick Prichard, Max Doty, Marc Beechuk, and Stephen Jaques (Planning); John Hawkins (Attorney’s Office); Hugh Ogle (Public Utilities), Alphonso Daniels, Jeff Scarbrough (Fire) Ms. Beresford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Planning Director announced the appointment of Mr. Alexander Sams to the Planning Commission as well as new legal counsel Mr. John Hawkins. 2. Nominating Committee delivered their report recommending Mr. Matt Hall as the new Chair and Ms. Alice Kinman as the new Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission. Mr. Tucker made a motion to elect Mr. Hall and Ms. Kinman as the new Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively. Ms. Gehring seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Introduction of Staff reports and all other documents submitted to the Planning Commission at this meeting into the official record. Ms. Kinman moved to introduced all reports and documents into the official record. Ms. Beresford second the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. Approval of June 1, 2023 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Ms. Kinman made a motion of approval. Mr. Tucker seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 3. MACORTS review and public comment—No report. OLD BUSINESS – None NEW BUSINESS 1. 160-170 WHITETAIL WAY – ZONE-2023-06-1135 Type II – Rezone Petitioner: Mark Campbell / Carter Engineering Owner: Nawkaw Properties Inc. Request: From E-O to E-I (Employment-Office to Employment-Industrial) Tax ID: 044 037 & 044 026V Mr. Beechuk presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval with condition. For: Mark Campbell (applicant) Against: None Discussion: None. Motion: Ms. Beresford made a motion to recommend approval with condition. Ms. Gehring seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Condition: 1. The applicant shall amend their plan to reserve a 50’ strip of land for a future right-of-way extension off of Whitetail Way along the southern property line of parcel #044 026V (170 Whitetail Way) until it reaches the western property line of said parcel. 2. 1125 NEWTON BRIDGE ROAD – ZONE-2023-06-1139 Type I – Rezone Petitioner: Tiffany Hogan / D.R. Horton Owner: Jane H. and William D. Young Foundation Request: From Employment Center to Traditional Neighborhood; From E-I* to RS-25 (Employment- Industrial with Conditions to Single-Family Residential-25) Tax ID: 104 002 Mr. Jaques presented the staff report, and noted that the application is only being received with comments. For: Tiffany Hogan (applicant) Against: None Discussion: Commissioners discussed the need for more housing for the growing number of jobs in the region, as well as whether the zoning request was appropriate for the land use, infrastructure, and public services in the area. Questions about the potential financial impact to the County’s infrastructure—especially the impact of the wastewater lift/pump station were expressed. Commissioners asked for clarification regarding the details of the wastewater lift/pump station, and asked that the fiscal impact be clarified as part of the master plan review phase. The applicant was also instructed to provide more information on the proposed intersection improvements to the adjacent street network. An additional connection to Holland Park was also discussed and relies on coordination with Leisure Services. Several Commissioners said they would like to see better urban design in the project. Commissioners also discussed whether the plan should be binding or non-binding. 3. 1040 US HIGHWAY 29 N – SUP-2023-04-0651 Type II – Special Use Petitioner: Jay Sanders Owner: Teaster Properties LLLP Request: Special Use in C-G* (Commercial-General with Conditions) Tax ID: 213 018A Ms. DeJausserand presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval—noting that the applicant had satisfied the proposed condition in the staff report. For: Jay Sanders (applicant) Against: None Discussion: Commissioners asked the applicant to explain the cell service coverage implications of the project. Motion: Mr. Tucker made a motion to recommend approval. Ms. Morales seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 4. 2365 PRINCE AVENUE – ZONE-2023-06-1314 Type II – Rezone Petitioner: Mark Campbell / Carter Engineering Owner: SAM BG LLC Request: From C-O to C-N (Commercial-Office to Commercial-Neighborhood) Tax ID: 113 049 Mr. Prichard presented the staff report with a recommendation for approval. For: Mark Campbell (applicant) Against: None  Discussion: Commissioners asked for details of the renovation, and expressed approval of the applicant’s plan to leave the existing marble façade in place. The Planning Director was asked to explain some of the redevelopment thresholds that trigger zoning ordinance compliance standards. Motion: Ms. Morales made a motion to recommend approval. Ms. Gehring seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 5. 243 BRAY STREET – ZONE-2023-05-0871 Type I – Rezone Petitioner: Jay Paul Smith Owners: Paul & Angela Smith Request: From Mixed Density Residential to Main Street Business; From RS-5 to RM-3 (Single-Family Residential-5 to Mixed-Density Residential-3) Tax ID: 164A3 A011C Mr. Doty presented the staff report with a recommendation for denial of both the Future Land Use and Zoning requests. For: Jay Paul Smith (applicant) Against: Steve Fogle Discussion: The discussion centered on concerns about the large jump in land use intensity between RS-5 and RM-3—especially without a binding plan showing exact details of the proposal. There was some disagreement on whether a request for RM-1 or RM-2 would be compatible in a neighborhood that is largely single-family houses. Most commissioners supported the applicant’s vision for affordable multi-family units on the parcel, but thought that the leap in land use intensity was just too great. The applicant was encouraged to explore other alternative designs and zones that could accommodate density without overwhelming the Bray Street area. Future Land Use Motion: Ms. Morales made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed 7-1 (Gehring in opposition). Zoning Motion: Ms. Morales made a motion to recommend denial. Ms. Kinman seconded the motion, which passed 7-1 (Gehring in opposition). OTHER BUSINESS 1. Planning Commission Chair’s Report—No report. 2. Planning Director's Report—A status update on items previously forwarded to the Mayor & Commission. 3. Miscellaneous announcements—No announcements. The meeting adjourned at 8:20.