Board of Adjustments

Rome-Floyd Board of Adjustments Minutes Location: City Hall Commission Chambers Date: Thursday, July 18, 2024 Time: 2:30 PM PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING FOR FULL DETAIL OF THE MEETING CALL TO ORDER Meeting convened: 2:40 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 A Wendy Lignell P Brice Wood – Director - Planning Department P Michelle Kite – Associate Planner P Julia Harris – HPC/Associate Planner Public (from sign-in sheet): Chris Garrett, Eric Wright, Patsy Buffington, Cory Brown, Chuck Hardin Welcome and Introduction of Visitors Clonts welcomed the public to the meeting and requested that all visitors sign in. Approval of Minutes from June 2024 Meeting Clonts made a motion to approve the June 2024 minutes, which was seconded by Brown. The motion passed by common consent. Approval/Modification of Agenda There were no modifications to the agenda. Johnson made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Brown. The agenda was approved by common consent. ROME/FLOYD ZONING VARIANCE APPLICATIONS: BOA24-07-08, for the property at 101 W 8th Ave., Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel J13Y049, being zoned Urban Mixed Use (U-M-U), requests to reduce Article 6.10.3 (b) requirements to 13’. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Chuck Hardin was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. He provided details regarding why development of the property would be more difficult due to terrain and the inability to utilize parking in the rear of the buildings. No one was present to speak in opposition. 1 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 4-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson S Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell BOA24-07-01, for the property at 2524 Calhoun Hwy., Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel L12Y142, being zoned Suburban Residential (S-R), requests to construct an accessory building 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. DA Buffington was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. The rear yard is subject to flooding, and this would be the best location on the property for the structure. 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, which was seconded by Harris. The motion passed 4-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson Y Frank Brown S Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell BOA24-07-02, for the property at 0 Watson St., Rome, GA 30165, Floyd County Tax Parcels I13X061 and I13X062, being zoned Low Density Traditional Residential (L-T-R), requests to reduce lot width from 120’ to 60’. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Chris Garrett was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. They would like to have (4) properties instead of (2) so that it is financially feasible. No one was present to speak in opposition. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Harris made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Brown. The motion passed 4-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts Y Jarrod Johnson S Frank Brown M Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell 2 BOA24-07-03, for the property at 14 Longbrooke Drive SE, Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel I16W243, being zoned Suburban Residential (S-R), requests to construct a 6’ fence closer to the right-of-way than the principal structure. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Drake Bryant was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. No one was present to speak in opposition. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Clonts made a motion to approve on the condition that the fence stays at least five feet from the front property line along Bennett Way, thus ensuring that there are no line-of-sight issues, which was seconded by Brown. The motion passed 4-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney M David Clonts Y Jarrod Johnson S Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell BOA24-07-04, for the property at 213 Old Calhoun Rd NE. (213 Old Calhoun Hwy. as listed on the Parcel Viewer), Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel M11X118A, being zoned Suburban Residential (S-R), requests to reduce the front setback from 25’ to 14’, and have a six-foot tall fence within the front yard. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. Hannah Carlson was present to speak in favor of the application and to answer any questions. No one was present to speak in opposition. Chair Clonts closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Harris made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Johnson. The motion passed 4-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts S Jarrod Johnson Y Frank Brown M Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell BOA24-07-05, for the property at 908 Darlington Way, Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel J14K174A, being zoned High Density Traditional Residential (H-T-R), requests to reduce the northern side setback from 5’ to 0’, and to reduce the rear setback from 20’ to 0’. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts opened the public hearing. No one was present to speak in favor of the application. 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 the side setback reduction to 0 feet and to approve the rear setback reduction on the condition that the approval is limited to the existing home and uncovered decking, thus preventing the actual building from being expanded, which was seconded by Harris. The motion passed 4-0. 3  MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney Y David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson Y Frank Brown S Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell BOA24-07-06, for the property at 14 Morningside Dr., Rome, GA 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel J14L251, being zoned Low Density Traditional Residential (L-T-R), requests to reduce the rear setback from 20’ to 5’. Director Wood presented the application, staff report, and staff recommendation. Chair Clonts recused himself. County Attorney Chris Jackson opened the public hearing. Amanda Carter and Cory Brown were present to speak on behalf of the application and to answer any questions. David Clonts spoke on behalf of the application in regard to the difficulty and expense associated with the development of this lot. No one was present to speak in opposition. County Attorney Chris Jackson closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion amongst the voting members. Johnson made a motion to approve on the condition that the approval is limited to the proposed garage and pool, which was seconded by Brown. The motion passed 3-0. MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER M - Motion S – Second AB – Abstained Cameron Abney AB David Clonts M Jarrod Johnson S Frank Brown Y Johnathan Harris Wendy Lignell ADJOURNMENT: Johnson made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 pm by common consent. STAFF REPORTS: https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3340/BOA24-07-06---Morningside-Dr-City https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3339/BOA24-07-05---Darlington-Way-City https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3338/BOA24-07-04---Old-Calhoun-Rd-County https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3337/BOA24-07-03---Longbrooke-Dr-City https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3336/BOA24-07-02---Watson-St-City https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3335/BOA24-07-01---Calhoun-Hwy-County https://www.romega.us/DocumentCenter/View/3334/BOA24-07-08---W-8th-Ave-City 4