Board of Adjustments

Rome-Floyd Board of Adjustments Minutes Location: City Hall Commission Chambers and Zoom Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 Time: 2:30 PM PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING FOR FULL DETAIL OF THE MEETING CALL TO ORDER Meeting convened: 2:32 p.m. led by Chair Clonts. Determination of Quorum (4 of 7 needed) P – Present MEMBER Notes STAFF Z – Zoom A Cameron Abney Vice Chair P Frank Beacham - City Attorney P Frank Brown P Chris Jackson – County Attorney P David Clonts Chair A Bruce Ivey – County Manager P Johnathan Harris P Meredith Ulmer – Asst City Manager P Jarrod Johnson P James Martin – Building Official P Wendy Lignell P Brice Wood – Director - Planning Department P Michelle Kite – Planning Technician P Julia Harris – HPC/Associate Planner P Doug Walker – Public Information Public (from sign-in sheet): Bill Jones, Griffin Watson, Brian Conway, Matthew Conway, Donna Goodwin, Nathan Self, Olivia Cawood, Ron Swinford Welcome and Introduction of Visitors Clonts welcomed the public to the meeting and requested that all visitors sign in. Approval of Minutes from December 2023 Meeting Johnson made a motion to approve the December 2023 minutes, which was seconded by Lignell. The motion passed by common consent. Approval/Modification of Agenda There were no modifications to the agenda, and this was passed by common consent. ROME/FLOYD ZONING VARIANCE APPLICATIONS: BOA24-01-01, for the property at 225 Hatfield Rd NE, Rome, GA 30165, Floyd County Tax Parcel J10W008, being zoned Suburban Residential (S-R), requests an accessory structure closer to the public right-of-way than the principal structure. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Brian Conway was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. He built the building and realized that he failed to get a permit. No one was present to speak in opposition. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Johnson made a motion to approve on condition that any/all necessary permits be obtained, which was seconded by Lignell. The motion passed 5-0. 1  MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson Y Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris S Wendy Lignell BOA24-01-02, for the property at 52 Ash St NE, Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel J13W689, being zoned High Density Traditional Residential (H-T-R), requests an eastern side setback reduction from 5’ to 37 inches. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Susan Meeks was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. She explained that the stairwell would obstruct the driveway and there is currently no access to the upstairs bedroom. No one was present to speak in opposition. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Johnson made a motion to deny without prejudice, which was seconded by Brown. The motion passed 4-1. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson S Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris N Wendy Lignell BOA24-01-03, for the property at 436 Morrison Campground Rd NE, Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel M13118, being zoned Suburban Residential (S-R), requests to keep an accessory structure that is closer to the public right-of-way than the principal structure. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Donna Goodwin was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. No one was present to oppose the application. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Johnson made a motion to approve as submitted, which was seconded by Lignell. The motion passed 5-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson Y Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris S Wendy Lignell BOA24-01-04, for the property at 0 Celanese Rd. and 0 Riverside Pkwy., Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcels J13X057, J13X058 and J13X059, being zoned Community Commercial (C-C), requests to eliminate the landscape buffer requirement to be able to meet the parking requirements. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. 2 Bill Jones was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. He explained the plan to build a convenience store, small restaurant and liquor store on the parcels. Ron Swinford, Nathan Self, Olivia Cawood and Meredith Ulmer were present to oppose the application. Ron Swinford noted the application did not provide a lot of detail and wanted more transparency on what they are trying to do, he also noted traffic issues, security issues for the nearby businesses and Chieftain’s Museum. Nathan Self also cited traffic issues and noted that the location is an issue with so many children in the area. Olivia Cawood also cited the traffic issues along with it’s proximity to children at the Chieftain’s Museum on a daily basis. Meredith Ulmer spoke on behalf of the city and that this was not a good use and it isn’t viewed as an improvement. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Brown made a motion to deny, which was seconded by Lignell. The motion passed 4-1. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts N Jarrod Johnson M Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris S Wendy Lignell NEW BUSINESS: ADJOURNMENT: Brown made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Johnson. The meeting was adjourned at 3:24 pm by common consent. STAFF REPORTS: https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/2910/BOA24-01-01---Hatfield-Rd-NE https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/2911/BOA24-01-02---Ash-St https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/2912/BOA24-01-03---Morrison-Campground-Rd-NE https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/2913/BOA24-01-04---Celanese-Rd-and-Riverside-Pkwy 3