The worksession agenda essentially comprised three items of business -- two zoning variance issues and the adoption of a process and timeline for revising the conservation subdivision regulations and standards.

The first item was an application for a setback variance for the development of a 2.5-acre parcel, fronting on West Broad Street between Checkers and the new KFC, with frontage also on Hawthorne Avenue and Old Epps Bridge Road. The intent is to lease the developed property to Walgreen Co. for use as a 24-hour retail pharmacy/grocery/etc. The plan showed a structure roughly in the center of the parcel, surrounded by driveways and parking, with access to all three streets. The zoning requirement for commercial development situated on corridors designated as “boulevard”(the category that has been assigned to that stretch of West Broad and Hawthorne as well) is for setbacks not to exceed 10 feet. Agreeing with the staff recommendation, the Commission decided theapplicant had not satisfied the five rules for establishing a compelling need and voted to deny the application for a variance.

The other variance issue was an appeal from a Homewood Hills resident to a variance granted by the Hearings Board to facilitate a development project on South Homewood Drive. Commission members did not accept that the appellant had made his case for a violation of due process -- and there was some doubt that the appellant had standing -– and voted unanimously to deny the appeal.

The proposal for developing revised conservation subdivision regulations and standards, adopted by unanimous vote, is as follows: Initial staff research and public input meeting (3 weeks) March 18th; preparation of first draft (1 week) March 21st; two community meetings and Planning Commission worksession (1 week) March 24th-27th; preparation of second draft (1 week) April 3rd; revisions, if needed (1 week) April 9th; Mayor and Commission agenda setting (1 week) April 15th; Mayor and Commission public hearing and decision (3 weeks) May 6th. This process and timeline are subject to acceptance by the Mayor and Commission at their March 4th meeting. (For a somewhat fuller story about this item, you can read Janis Reid’s Banner Herald story at: http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/020703/new_20030207060.shtml)

Finally, the Planning Director, Brad Griffin, proposed changing the Planning Commission monthly meeting schedule from the first Thursday, as currently, to the fourth Tuesday of each month, to better accommodate requirements for legal advertising. An unofficial poll of the members indicated unanimous agreement to the change, which could be implemented in April, but making the change will require more formal action.

--Charles Apostolik