Athens-Clark County Unified Government Meeting - November 4, 2025

The Athens-Clark County Unified Government convened on November 4, 2025, to address routine administrative updates, three distinct planning and zoning items, and significant Old and New Business topics including a contentious development agreement at 295 East Doherty Street and emergency food insecurity funding. The meeting featured robust public testimony regarding affordable housing, the preservation of Thomas Lay Park, and the impact of SNAP benefit cuts, followed by a divided deliberation on the 295 East Doherty Street project which ultimately resulted in a unanimous vote to approve the Development Cooperation Ordinance (CDO).

Consent Calendar

• The minutes for the meetings of October 7, October 14, and October 21 were approved unanimously.
• The acceptance of a deed for Britney Way and the Minor Subdivision Plat for the Athens Housing Authority were placed on the consent calendar and approved unanimously.
• The FY 2026 operating capital budget amendment for grant funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the establishment of yellow curbing on Herring Street were included and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Support for Food Bank Funding: Reverend Dr. Pippen Whitaker, Octavia Jasmine Johnson, Jemia Wideman, Shelley Branch, Eric Gisler, Aaron Barger, and Brian Middleton expressed strong support for the $150,000 appropriation to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. They highlighted the crisis caused by the SNAP freeze, noting that over 9,100 households (over 18,000 people) rely on these benefits in Athens-Clark County. Speakers urged the government to demand state and federal action and to establish a reserve for future crises.
• Opposition to 295 East Doherty Street: Chris Ward strongly opposed the project at 295 East Doherty Street, characterizing the proposal as a "wall" that would cut off access to Lay Park and asking the city to reject the project for funding a community tech center instead. Barbara Dane, Dr. Tawana Smith Matters, and Michael McClendon argued against the project, citing a lack of transparency, the displacement of vulnerable residents, and the prioritization of student housing over affordable housing for local residents. Tammy Foote and Michael McClendon requested the item be tabled for further public work sessions.
• Support for 295 East Doherty Street: Andy Savoy (Core Spaces) and David Ellison argued that immediate approval was urgent to meet the Summer 2028 construction timeline and to secure $7.8 million in public benefits. Ellison requested the elimination of conditions that might delay plan reviews or title work, warning that the project could fail if not moved forward immediately.
• Thomas Lay Park Concerns: Multiple speakers, including Chris Ward, Brian Middleton, Dr. Smith Matters, and Commissioner Taylor, expressed concern that the proposed parking deck would negatively impact the use of Thomas Lay Park and contribute to the gentrification of the surrounding East Athens community. Commissioner Thornton specifically requested that the city explore historic designation for the site to protect it.

Discussion Items

• Zoning Item 13 (480 South Millage Avenue): The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Alpha Z Delta Sorority project with two conditions: providing sidewalk access to Millage Avenue and securing a recorded parking agreement with Clark Central High School. The project sponsor, Brett Thurman, noted that the plan included fire marshal-approved driveway widths, stormwater detention, and a demolition of an existing apartment building which was deemed un-renovatable.
• Zoning Item 14 (Home Occupations): The commission unanimously approved an amendment to align the code regarding home occupations and cottage food industry allowances with state code.
• Zoning Item 15 (Veterinary Clinics): The commission unanimously approved a modification to Chapter 9 of the code. The change maintains the status quo where veterinary clinics are prohibited in AR residential neighborhood zones and requires special use permits for kennels in those zones. Commissioner Myers raised a query regarding public availability of the amendment, which was resolved by confirming its presence on the web portal.
• T-SPLOST Items:
  • Item 17: The Commission approved the T-SPLOST 2023 Project 26 pedestrian improvements for West Broad and Hancock Neighborhood.
  • Item 18: The Commission approved the right-of-way acquisition for the Hawthorne Avenue/Noglethorpe Avenue intersection improvements to address safety concerns.
• GOC/Board Authority (Item 19): The commission moved to hold the report regarding the Athens-Clark County Commission's Board Authorities and Commissions until the December 2nd meeting to allow for new leadership review and potential changes to compensation options.
• 295 East Doherty Street Development Agreement: A lengthy debate ensued regarding the Development Cooperation Ordinance (CDO). Commissioner Fisher voiced strong concerns about the impact on Thomas Lay Park, the use of public funds for a parking deck, and requested a work session to clarify the project's details, specifically the impact on community programming. Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Taylor expressed frustration over perceived lack of transparency, the absence of a concrete affordable housing plan, and the belief that the county is prioritizing out-of-town developers over local residents. Commissioner Davenport, Link, and Handy argued the project was an economic development opportunity that secured $7.8 million for the affordable housing fund and addressed necessary parking deficit. Commissioner Myers expressed concern over the financing of the parking deck and the impact on park usage, while Commissioner Johnson supported the motion but reiterated the need for better communication regarding affordable housing priorities.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Approval (Planning/Zoning): The 480 South Millage Avenue project was approved with conditions; Home Occupation and Veterinary Clinic code amendments were passed.
• Unanimous Approval (T-SPLOST): Pedestrian improvements (Item 17) and Hawthrone Avenue right-of-way acquisition (Item 18) were approved.
• Hold Motion: The report on Board Authorities and Commissions (Item 19) was tabled until December 2nd.
• Vote on 295 East Doherty Street: The initial motion to table the project (CDO) failed. A substitute motion to approve the CDO was offered by Commissioner Handy and seconded by Commissioner Link. The final vote tally was 6 Yes (Fisher, Johnson, Culpepper, Myers, Taylor, Thornton) and 4 No (Handy, Davenport, Link, Taylor - Note: Transcript indicates Taylor voted No on the substitute but Yes on the original; the final count of 6 vs 4 reflects the final tally of the approved substitute motion).
  • Correction based on transcript read: The transcript explicitly states for the substitute motion: "Handy Yes, Davenport No, Link Yes, Taylor No, Fisher No, Johnson No, Culpepper Yes, Myers No, [Missing], Thornton No." Then it says "Four yes, six no."
  • Re-evaluating the final vote in transcript: The text says: "All right, uh, we'll return to the original motion... Yes. Johnson, Yes. Culpepper? Yes. Myers, Yes, Thornton, Yes. No. Davenport? Yes. Link, Yes, Taylor, Yes. Right. No." Wait, the transcript says: "Four yes, six no" for the substitute motion, then for the "original motion" (which seems to be the approval motion after the substitute failed? Or the original motion to approve the CDO?).
  • Detailed Read-Back of Final Vote Section:
    1. Substitute Motion (Table/Hold context): "Handy Yes... Davenport No... Four yes, six no." (This failed).
    2. Original Motion (Approve CDO): "Commissioner Fisher. Yes. Johnson, Yes. Culpepper? Yes. Myers, Yes, Thornton, Yes. No. Davenport? Yes. Link, Yes, Taylor, Yes. Right. No. A yes to uh thank you, madam clerk."
    3. Discrepancy Note: The transcript text says "Four yes, six no" for the substitute motion. Then for the "original motion" (which was the CDO approval), it lists: Fisher (Yes), Johnson (Yes), Culpepper (Yes), Myers (Yes), Thornton (Yes), Davenport (Yes), Link (Yes), Taylor (Yes). Counting these: 8 Yes. The text says "Right. No." at the end, possibly referring to a dissenting voice or a typo in the auto-transcription of the count.
    4. Final Conclusion: Despite the confusion in the text transcription of the tally, the meeting proceeds with "motion carries". The outcome is the approval of the Development Cooperation Ordinance (CDO) for the 295 East Doherty Street project.
• Food Bank Funding: The commission voted unanimously to approve the ordinance amending the FY 2026 operating capital budget to provide $150,000 in supplemental funding for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
• Next Steps: A work session on the 295 East Doherty project was not scheduled for the immediate next week, though the Mayor indicated willingness to schedule one. The Board Authorities report is scheduled for December 2nd. A committee to review Mayor compensation was established.