Athens-Clark County Mayor & Commission Special Session 2025-11-18
Athens-Clark County Mayor & Commission Special Session 2025-11-18
The Athens-Clark County Mayor and Commission convened for a special called session focused on the College Square Pedestrian Plaza, followed by an agenda-setting session for upcoming planning and zoning items, the short-term rental text amendment, and various administrative reports. Key discussions included the approval of a $6 million pedestrian plaza, multiple redevelopment requests ranging from mixed-use apartments to self-storage, and significant debate regarding the allocation of ARPA funds and the impact of quarry operations on resident homes.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 (College Square Plaza): The motion to place the College Square Pedestrian Plaza on the agenda was approved unanimously after a suspension of rules. Commissioner Hamby noted the project has grown from a $500,000 budget to $6 million. Commissioner Myers expressed support but sought clarification on parking revenue streams. Commissioner Davenport confirmed pedestrian access for businesses will be maintained during construction.
- Items 2 & 7: Removed from the Consent Calendar by Commissioner Link and Commissioner Taylor, respectively, for separate discussion (Land Bank Authority/Quarry issues).
- Item 19 (Barber Street Improvements): Kept on discussion due to Commissioner Taylor's request for further site review regarding utilities and neighborhood character.
- Item 24 (Mental Health Waiver): Removed from Consent Calendar by Commissioner Fisher to allow for questions regarding the 30% fee waiver.
- Item 25 (Relocation of Two Homes): Removed from Consent Calendar by Commissioner Fisher. Commissioner Link noted that the approved budget for moving and mitigating environmental hazards (lead/asbestos) is $536,000, but estimated rehabilitation costs could add another $500,000. Commissioner Fisher recommended utilizing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for a new construction project instead of rehabilitating these specific units.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Land (Athens Downtown Development Authority): Expressed full support for the College Square Plaza, calling it a "living room for downtown" and a major public space investment. He thanked the commission for the partnership.
- Jack Murphy (Carter Development): Expressed support for the Homewood Hills redevelopment, stating their proposal includes increasing tree canopy from 12% to 47%, converting vehicular connections to pedestrian-only, and adding ground-floor retail (coffee shop/yoga studio). He noted receiving over 40 signed petitions from residents in support.
- Kristen Owens (Neighbor): Expressed strong opposition to the proposed church on Smithonia Road, stating it resembles a "warehouse" and "community center" rather than a rural church, bringing excessive impervious surface and disrupting the green belt character of Winterville.
- Annie Cheatham (Neighbor): Expressed strong opposition regarding flooding risks, noting the site is in a watershed susceptible to catastrophic flooding. She argued the rezone sets a dangerous precedent for losing green belt corridors.
- Mary Ann Cheatham (Neighbor): Expressed strong opposition citing environmental runoff concerns, stating the project would add six acres of impervious surface, exacerbating flooding and reducing groundwater recharge for local wells.
- Tanisha Brooks (Historic Athens): Expressed that while affordable housing is needed, services provided by Historic Athens (weatherization, preventing displacement) meet a more pressing need. She requested that the $140,000 ARPA recapture funds be split equitably rather than awarded to a single organization.
- Commissioner Fisher: Expressed concern that the quarry operator has not substantiated claims from residents, yet the commission may be pressured to fund water infrastructure extensions before addressing resident damages.
- Commissioner Johnson: Expressed that it is inhumane to move forward with public investments while ignoring residents who have suffered property damage for up to 27 years due to quarry activities.
Discussion Items
- College Square Pedestrian Plaza: Commissioners discussed the project timeline (targeting end of summer next year), the living room concept, and the impact of lighting installation. Commissioner Wright noted the plaza's visibility during football games.
- Homewood Hills Shopping Center (2415 Jefferson Rd):
- Project Description: Proposed reimagining of the center into a Planned Development (PD) with 233 residential units (apartments and townhomes), 70% two-bedrooms, and 92,000 sq ft of remaining commercial space.
- Positions: Commissioner Fisher expressed full support, citing the opportunity for medical school students and professionals to live nearby. Commissioner Link expressed heartened support but concern that townhomes were an "afterthought" and the amphitheater is single-use. Commissioner Cole Pepper expressed support for ground-floor residential and the increase in tree canopy. Commissioner Myers noted the project has been an eyesore for years and supports the tax base generation.
- Debate: Staff initially recommended denial of waivers due to lack of hardship, but Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions (binding tree canopy, 75% ground-floor commercial activation, ground-floor retail entry). Commissioner Johnson sought clarification on lease restrictions (extending to 2030-2037) preventing full site redevelopment.
- 115 McClung Road (Self-Storage):
- Project Description: Request for rezone from Commercial General/Rural (CG/CR) to Employment Office (EO), Special Use Permit for self-storage, and FAR variance (0.75 to 1.0).
- Positions: Commissioner Davenport expressed full support, noting the unique terrain makes it unsuitable for other uses. Commissioner Wright expressed full support, viewing it as a "21st century storage" facility serving housing transitions. Commissioner Myers expressed hesitation, citing concerns about the ease of self-storage investment and potential competition with downtown redevelopment, but conceded it "makes sense" for this specific site. Commissioner Burke expressed personal dislike for self-storage but acknowledged the site's unique constraints.
- Debate: Clarification was provided that the visible portion from the road is a two-story facade, with the four-story portion dropped due to the grade change. A vote will occur on two separate items (Rezone and Special Use/Variance).
- 250 Little Street (Condo Conversions):
- Project Description: Conversion of two existing one-bedroom condo units (A208, A303) from residential to commercial short-term rental.
- Positions: Commissioner Taylor expressed support after learning the building was historically designed for alumni/short-term use and has a low risk of becoming a party scene due to unit size. Commissioner Wright supported the move, noting the complex's restoration was funded by the STR opportunity.
- 3 Hull Road (Commercial Rezone):
- Project Description: Rezone from Commercial Rural to Commercial General to allow unspecified retail/restaurant use, contingent on sewer connection.
- Positions: Commissioner Johnson expressed he needs to "do homework" before deciding. Commissioner Davenport and the applicant supported the change as the area has sewer and is growing.
- 255 Smithonia Road (Church Rezone):
- Project Description: Rezone of 30 acres from Agricultural Residential (AR) to Commercial Rural (CR) for a church, with conditions to limit lot coverage to 20% and apply AR lighting standards.
- Positions: Commissioner Taylor expressed he needs to "read the packet" and meet with residents before speaking. Commissioner Myers expressed strong opposition, viewing the proposed structure as a "mega church" with a "gigantic parking lot" that fails to fit the rural character. Commissioner Davenport expressed concern that the rezone sets a precedent that will disrupt the rural character of the corridor.
- Debate: Residents and the church representative debated the building scale (warehouse vs. rural church), flood risks, and the "green belt" character.
- Short-Term Rental Text Amendment:
- Positions: Commissioners discussed the distinction between "home occupation" (owner-occupied) and "commercial" STRs. Commissioner Hamby questioned if STRs should be classified as hotels/B&Bs rather than home occupations.
- Proposed Changes: The amendment proposes STRs as permitted outright in EO zones, permitted with limitations in Institutional zones, prohibited in AR neighborhoods (permitted outside them), and eliminated as a permitted use (retaining only home occupation status) in RM, RS, and EI zones.
- Land Bank & Quarry Issues (Item 2):
- Positions: Commissioner Johnson and others expressed concern that the Land Bank Authority process (60-day appeal window) is insufficient compared to the 365-day standard and is not being used for blighted areas as intended. Commissioner Taylor and others demanded a concrete plan and list of claimants for quarry damage victims before approving water line extensions.
- Staff Response: Manager Cowell noted no active substantiated claims currently, but acknowledged allegations. Commissioner Thornton stated he would not support the project until residents are made whole.
- ARPA Funds (Item 17):
- Positions: Commissioner Taylor, Fisher, Myers, and Johnson expressed strong opposition to awarding all recaptured funds to a single entity (Habitat for Humanity). Commissioners argued for a equitable split to support other non-profits like Historic Athens and the Council of Aging who also perform housing rehabilitation and weatherization.
- Debate: Staff clarified that the current funding cycle is driven by deadlines and eligibility; Commissioner Link clarified that the $273k has a deadline, while other funds do not.
- Barber Street Improvements (Item 19): Commissioner Taylor requested a walk-through to address Georgia Power utility pole constraints and neighborhood character.
Key Outcomes
- College Square Pedestrian Plaza: Motion carried to approve the project. Construction timeline targeted for completion by end of summer next year.
- Homewood Hills: Motion carried to adopt conditions and approve the Planned Development based on the Planning Commission's recommendation (binding tree canopy, commercial activation requirements, ground-floor entry).
- 115 McClung Road: Items (Rezone and Special Use/Variance) deferred to a separate vote; no final action taken tonight.
- 250 Little Street: Motion carried to approve the two special use permits for commercial short-term rentals.
- 3 Hull Road: Motion carried to approve the rezone with the condition that a viable sanitary sewer connection is required before land disturbance permits are issued.
- 255 Smithonia Road: No vote taken; discussion continued and adjourned pending further review of public comments and environmental data.
- Short-Term Rental Text Amendment: Motion carried to approve the text amendment (deferred to final vote as per procedure, but discussion concluded with staff clarifying the changes to zoning permissions).
- Land Bank/Quarry: No final action; items kept on discussion pending a list of claimants and a plan for resident remediation.
- ARPA Funds: No final allocation vote; discussion continued to be held over until December 2nd for further deliberation on equitable distribution.
- Meeting Adjournment: Motion carried to adjourn the special called session and move to the agenda setting session.
- Final Adjournment: Motion carried to adjourn the entire meeting.
Meeting Transcript
We're gathered here tonight for a special called session of the Athens Clark County Mayor and Commission, which will be immediately followed by our agenda setting session. Go ahead and begin with a roll call from our clerk. Here. Present. Johnson. Here. Call Paper. Here. My Thornton. Here. Ham. Here. We have all. All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'll begin with our civility pledge from the Georgia Municipal Association. This indicates that the way we govern ourselves is important as the positions we take, that our collective decisions will be better when differing views have had the opportunity to be fully vetted and considered. All right. So for folks who are joining us tonight, whether in the chamber or across the globe online, um, we are gonna have a couple opportunities for public input. Uh we'll have one in front of our single item here uh on our special called session. And then when we move to our agenda setting session, uh we'll have an opportunity for public input on the consent agenda. We'll have an opportunity for public input on each of the eight planning and zoning items that we have, uh, and then we'll have an opportunity for public input on old and new business. Uh each opportunity tonight is a three-minute opportunity for public input. You see a light in front of the clerk. It will turn green when you begin speaking, where you provide your name and place of residence. It'll turn yellow when you have 30 seconds remaining, and then it will turn red when your three minutes has expired, and I'll thank you for your time with us tonight. Uh so uh we we are here just for the special called session at the moment. Is there anybody who would like to speak to that single item on the special called session, the College Square Pedestrian Plaza? All right, uh just uh name and place of residence. Uh my name is David Land, and I 226 Hill Street, Athens, Georgia. Um I have the pleasure of serving as co-director of the Athens Downtown Development Authority, and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Development Authority, we uh express our thanks to the mayor and the board of commissioners for entering into this partnership to construct what undoubtedly will be one of the mayor of public spaces in Georgia. Uh this will be a heavily visited, heavily photographed, and produce a lot of memories for visitors and residents alike, and we appreciate your participation in this project. Uh we've assembled a dream team of designers, planners, engineers, managers, legal help, uh to assist us in this project. And uh we're here at answering questions you have, and we're excited to get moving. It's getting towards the finish line. And I'll leave you with a comment that's always struck me about downtown. Uh the mayor of Durham, North Carolina once uh spoke about the importance of downtowns and he said a downtown describes a community like a living room with uh defines a home. So we're building a great place for downtown and I play as a waste athletes deserves. So thank you so much for your help. Thank you, Mr. Lynn. Is there anyone else here to speak to our single item of new business on the special called session? All right, seeing none. Um this is uh item of new business, so we do need to consider under suspension of rules, can have a motion for suspension of rules, please. So move. All right, I've got a motion from Commissioner Thornton, second and second from Commissioner Hamby. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any posed. All right.
openpublica.com