Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission Special Call Meeting - September 16, 2025

This was a special call meeting of the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission held on September 16, 2025. The meeting included approval of a memorandum of understanding for a sanitary sewer project, discussions on four planning items (rezonings and special use permits), and review of numerous new business items including a fire station location, pedestrian improvements, and board/committee updates.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Sanford Stadium Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Improvement Project Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Georgia Athletic Association was approved by unanimous vote.
• Consent agenda items 1–6 and 9–12 were approved as a block after removal of items 7 and 8.
• Item 7 (SPLOST project facility equipment) was removed by Commissioner Myers for discussion on the importance of addressing long-term capital maintenance backlogs and energy efficiency. After her comments, she moved it back onto the consent agenda, and it was approved.
• Item 8 (procurement policy) was removed by Commissioner Thornton and left off consent for further review of the procurement process.
• From new business (items 17–30), several were placed on consent after brief discussion: items 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25 were approved on consent. All others were removed for further consideration.

Public Comments & Testimony

• William Dill, applicant representative for item 13 (O Elberton Road rezoning), spoke in favor of the industrial project, stating it would align with nearby industrial growth, protect wooded areas, and include a pump station for sewer. He proposed limiting uses to Level 1 to reduce traffic and noise impacts.
• Mark Walton, engineer for item 15 (780 Macon Highway multifamily development), described the challenging topography and design efforts to meet sensitivity requirements while providing scenic river views.

Discussion Items

• Item 13: Rezoning of O Elberton Road (23 acres from AR to E1)
  Staff reported that the planning commission recommended denial due to incompatibility with the comprehensive plan, lack of sanitary sewer, adjacency to a middle school, and limited road infrastructure. Applicant argued for limitations on use intensity. Commissioners questioned feasibility of sewer connection across wetlands and the lack of a binding site plan. No vote was taken.

• Item 14: Special Use for Veterinary Clinic at 600 Oglethorpe Avenue
  Staff supported the request with a variance for parking lot screening. Planning commission recommended approval. Commissioner Wright expressed support. The applicant offered to plant climbing ornamentals on fencing to improve screening. No vote was taken.

• Item 15: Rezoning of 780 Macon Highway from RS5 to RM1 for eight townhomes
  Staff and planning commission recommended approval due to environmental constraints (riparian buffer, floodplain, steep slopes) that made subdivision under current zoning unfeasible. Commissioner Cole-Porter supported the project. Discussion included retaining wall design and potential for Native American artifacts. No vote was taken.

• Item 16: Rezoning of 0.353 acres on McClure Road from RM2 to CG for commercial driveway
  Staff explained the need to allow commercial traffic to access a Dollar General without crossing residentially zoned land, improving safety. Planning commission recommended approval. Commissioner Thornton supported the proposal. No vote was taken.

• Item 18: Fire Station Location on Old Lexington Road
  Commissioner Myers presented a community-defined option (CDO) to minimize the facility's footprint, use buffers, and address resident concerns while keeping the station at the site identified by the fire chief. He emphasized that the location would provide life-saving services to an additional 800 underserved residents, reducing response times by 3–6 minutes for addresses on Bob Godfrey, Nellie Mays, Lexington Road, Robert Hardeman, and Blue Heron Drive. Fire Chief A. confirmed that the decision affects about 12% of the county (15,000 people) and that alternative locations would reduce coverage. Commissioner Thornton presented a competing CDO for a different cheaper location that would cover more areas, including neighborhoods left uncovered by the proposed site. Discussion included call volumes (Station 5 averages 2–3 calls per day) and station design preferences (single-story, community-compatible). No vote was taken; further discussion anticipated at voting session.

• Item 21: Stonehenge Neighborhood Pedestrian Improvements
  Commissioner Johnson presented the project overview, including ADA sidewalks, speed tables, and traffic calming, with a $3 million budget. She noted a survey of residents prioritized sidewalk improvements and that temporary speed humps will be replaced with permanent ones. She questioned the user group appointment process and lack of online public meeting records. The county manager stated that the process would be discussed at an upcoming retreat. Item placed on consent.

• Item 26: GOC Report on BAC Procedures
  Commissioner Davenport summarized recommendations to consolidate boards and committees, update rules, require email addresses for open records, and provide stipends totaling approximately $67,000. Several commissioners requested more time to review the extensive changes and the clean version of the manual. Chair Wright suggested a joint meeting with LRC to break down the details. Item removed from consent for further review.

• Item 27: LRC Noise Ordinance Recommendation for Agricultural Zones
  Commissioner Thornton presented a text amendment to restrict excessive noise from commercial entities in agricultural zones. Under the proposal, before 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and before midnight on weekends, noise audible beyond one mile would be a violation; after those hours, the threshold would be half a mile. Enforcement is limited to a $1,000 fine per state law. Commissioner Thornton sought a vote at the October meeting and expressed willingness to accept minor CDO adjustments. Item removed from consent for possible amendments.

• Item 28: Family Connection Performance Metrics
  Commissioner Wright requested more time to review the 73-page report. She also suggested that nonprofit reports be provided in a one-page format directly to commissioners, not just via a dashboard. Item removed from consent.

• Item 29: Classic City Heights Affordable Housing Cooperation Agreement
  Commissioner asked about high connection fees; staff explained they represent equity buy-in for prior infrastructure investments. Item removed from consent for further study.

• Item 30: Downtown Athens Phase Two Intergovernmental Agreement
  Commissioner requested more time for questions on the complex documents. Staff acknowledged the effort to finalize materials. Item removed from consent.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Memorandum of Understanding for Sanford Stadium Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Phase 2 (unanimous) – this was the only formal vote taken during the special call portion.
• Taken on consent (approved as a block): consent agenda items 1–6 and 9–12; new business items 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25.
• Items removed from consent for further discussion and future votes: item 8 (procurement policy), item 17 (West Broad Hancock pedestrian safety – held for CDO), item 19 (Hoyt/Oconee intersection – held for property owner feedback), item 22 (water/wastewater fee exemption – dollar amount to be provided), item 26 (BAC procedures), item 27 (noise ordinance), item 28 (Family Connection metrics), item 29 (affordable housing cooperation agreement), item 30 (downtown IGA).
• No votes were taken on planning items 13–16 or new business items 18, 26–30; these will return at the October voting session with potential CDOs.
• The meeting adjourned into executive session for discussion on real estate acquisition or disposal.