Planning Commission

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES SUMMARY Stonecrest City Hall- 6:00 PM *Spoke-in-Person Meeting November 8, 2023 As set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City of Stonecrest will assist citizens with special needs given notice (7 working days) to participate in any open meetings of the City of Stonecrest. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office via telephone (770-224-0200) Citizens wishing to actively participate and make a comment during the public hearing portion of the meeting please submit a request via email address planning-zoning@stonecrestga.gov by noon the day of the hearing November 8, 2023. The zoom link for the meeting will be sent to you, or you can also submit comments and questions to the same email address by the same deadline to be read into the record at the meeting. I. Call to Order: Chairman Eric Hubbard (District 3) called the Spoke-in-Person meeting to order at 6:00 PM. II. Roll Call: Chairman Hubbard (District 3) called the roll. Commissioner Erica Williams (District I), Commissioner Joyce Walker (District 2), Commissioner Pearl Hollis (District 4), and Commissioner Lemuel Hawkins (District 5) were present. Planning Deputy Director Matthew Williams and Planner Abeykoon Abeykoon were in attendance. Attorney Alicia Thompson, Fincher Denmark, LLC, virtually attended. III. Approval of Minutes: The Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Summary dated October 3, 2023. Chairman Hubbard called for a motion to approve the Planning Commission meeting Minutes Summary dated October 3, 2023 by Commissioner Hollis. Commissioner Walker seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously APPROVED. IV. Approval of the Agenda: Chairman Hubbard called for a motion to APPROVE THE AGENDA. Commissioner Williams motioned to APPROVE THE AGENDA. Commissioner Hollis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously APPROVED. V. Presentations: Upcoming Cases Presented by Deputy Director Matthew Williams • RZ-23-005 • RZ-23-006 • SLUP-23-009 VI. Old Business: N/A VII. Announcements: N/A VIII. Presentations Planning and Zoning Deputy Director Matthew Williams Presented RZ-23-005, RZ-23-006 and SLUP23-009 Page 1 of 14 RZ23-005 1982 Phillips Road Lucretia Ramsey Petitioner is seeking to modify zoning condition(s) from CZ-85127 to allow attached dwellings (duplex). Future Land Use- Suburban Neighborhood RSM Small Lot Residential Mix Facts and Background • Subject property was rezoned under Dekalb County in 1985. • Subject property is currently vacant/undeveloped. • Applicant desires to develop a duplex (attached dwelling) • The current zoning of the subject property (RSM) permits attached dwellings. • Conditions from rezoning case, CZ-85127 prevents applicant from constructing a duplex. CZ-85127 Conditions Page 2 of 14 Site Plans- Page 3 of 14 Property Renderings- Staff’s Recommendations- • Approval of Modification of Condition 1 Page 4 of 14 Lucretia Ramsey the applicant came to the stand. She is a resident and realtor in the area who has also worked on another property in Stonecrest. She believes that this property will enhance the city. Her daughter will live in one side and she will rent out the other. It is not your typical duplex, but it is more designed to look similar to a townhouse. She is in the correct zoning, just needs the modification removed. Commissioner Hollis asked if she spoke with neighbors about the project. Lucretia Ramsey stated that she did speak with the neighbors. One of the residents she spoke to came to the first meeting and was excited about the project. She also believes it will lead to an enhancement. Commissioner Walker asked if there would be other things involved along with the proposed project and or if anything different would be used Lucretia Ramsey stated some of the materials that will be used and that it will be nice. She also mentioned that there have been a lot of townhomes that have been built over the years in the city Chairman Hubbard motioned to open a Public Hearing. Approved by unanimous vote. There were none to speak for or against the application. Public hearing was closed. Commissioner Hollis complemented on the renderings for the proposed project Commissioner Hawkins asked about the off-street parking requirements because the renderings of the duplex featured two one-car garages (one for each side of the duplex). Deputy Director Matthew Williams stated that the requirements are met because there are also parking pads in front of the garages. Chairman Hubbard made a motion to recommend approval of this application to City Council. The motion was moved by Erica Williams and APPROVED by unanimous vote. RZ23-006 7467 Covington Highway Floyd Sullivan Petitioner is seeking to rezone the subject property from R-75 (Residential Medium Lot -75) to C-1 (Local Commercial). Future Land Use- Suburban Neighborhood R-75 Residential Medium Lot Future Land Use- City Center (CC) Facts and Background • Applicant is proposing to rezone to operate electrical business and use as office space Page 5 of 14 • Surrounding uses are: • Place of Worship • Tire Shop • Auto Parts Retail Store Page 6 of 14 Submitted Site Plans- Page 7 of 14 Commissioner Hawkins asked about the number of work trucks that will be stored on the property Deputy Director Matthew Williams stated that the city does not require screening for C-1 zoning districts. He deferred to the applicant for the number of company vehicles. Commissioner Hollis asked if they would be able to view the new site plan when it is submitted Mattew Williams stated that after approval the site plan will be evaluated internally by staff Commissioner Walker asked for Matthew Williams to expound on the concept of the city center and if residential properties are also in this area. She also asked if they had any public meetings to discuss the project. Matthew Williams defined City Center and also explained that there are residential properties in the area and that they attended the Community Planning Information Meeting. There was a motion to open public hearing. It was moved unanimously. Floyd Sullivan the applicant came to the stand. He stated that he had been doing electrical work for 17 years and this is the first property he has owned. He currently owns three vans. There is enough space to park in the back of the property if needed. He also mentioned that they have new employees. Chairman Hubbard asked if he was in agreement with the conditions placed on the applications. Floyd Sullivan stated that he is willing to comply with any requirement asked. He wants to contribute to enhancing the community and he has contributed so far There was no one to speak for or against the application. Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Hawkins made a motion to recommend APPROVAL to the city council. It was seconded by Commissioner Williams and APPROVED unanimously. Page 8 of 14 SLUP23-009 3309 and 3313 Panola Road Darrell Johnson of JDM Consultants, LLC on the behalf of CCC Christ Gospel Parish Petitioner is seeking a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to develop a Place of Worship R-100 Residential Medium Lot Future Land Use- Suburban Neighborhood (SN) Facts and Background • Applicant is proposing to operate a Place of Worship (POW) at subject property • The POW will be approximately 10,500 sq ft • The POW will have approximately 300 seats • Total acres is 3.7 +/- • Vacant/undeveloped land Sec. 4.2.42. – Places of Worship, Convents; Monasteries; Temporary Religious Meetings Site Plans- Page 9 of 14 Renderings- Page 10 of 14 Page 11 of 14 Three additional conditions were obtained from the city’s engineer 4) Add an acceleration and deceleration lane off of Panola Road 5) Dedicate a portion of the property that is in line with neighboring property for the roadway dedication 6) Reposition the Detention Pond for better water flow Commissioner Walker asked about the number of churches in the area and the other construction projects in the area. She also asked about the time frame of the development. Deputy Director Matthew Williams stated that the ingress and egress requirements should help alleviate traffic if the site is developed. Commissioner Williams asked about the buffer requirement for noise considering that the proposed project is near a neighborhood. A motion was made to open a public hearing which was moved and approved by a unanimous vote. Page 12 of 14 Darrel Johnson, a representative of the applicant came to the stand. He stated that there is a 50- 80 ft buffer between the proposed church and surrounding properties. They are speaking with a surveyor about merging the properties. The detention pond will be evaluated further during the Land Disturbance Permit application stage, but it is located at the lowest point of the property. They will ensure that there are no increased flows on the property. They can add acceleration and deceleration lanes to the project. Expecting traffic on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday but the lanes should assist with that. Commissioner Hollis stated that she had no objections to the church being there and them confirming to the requirements of the staff Commissioner Walker asked about the size of the church (10,000 sqft) and its contribution to the traffic. Matthew Williams stated that the deceleration and acceleration lane should help with the traffic He was also able to find that there is a church located 1 mile south of the proposed project and another church 500 feet from the proposed property. Chairman Hubbard made a motion to recommend Approval to the city council. It was seconded by Commissioner Hollis and APPROVED by a unanimous vote. IX. Announcements: N/A The meeting ended at 6:44 PM Page 13 of 14