Athens-Clark County City Council Meeting: January 6, 2026

The Athens-Clark County City Council convened on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, for a combined special called session and regular voting meeting. The evening began with the presentation of awards recognizing the Sandy Creek Nature Center Trail Guides and the Leisure Services Department. The council then addressed the Historic Designation of Lay Park, rezoning for a 1.53-acre parcel at 293 Hoyt Street, and a major development agreement for the Doherty Street site (CoreSpace project). Significant public input was provided regarding T SPLOST 2026 funding for Greenways and the resolution of right-of-way ordinances concerning the unhoused population.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from December 2nd, December 9th, and two December 16th meetings.
• Approved Item 4: Ordinance providing funding for a Fire Department classification and compensation study (removed from discussion for clarification, then approved).
• Approved Items 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the consent agenda without further discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Umana Maddox: Expressed full support for the Lay Park Historic Designation and the development agreement, citing the sincerity of the developer in addressing historical displacement, but voiced strong concern regarding the lack of early transparency and accountability in the decision-making process for historically Black areas. She advocated for the $7.8 million Affordable Housing Fund contribution not to go to NOTA.
• Ed Lane (SPG Planners): Stated that the rezone for 293 Hoyt Street is compatible with all planning maps and the comprehensive plan, and that the rezone does not bind the council to a specific future development.
• Commissioner Taylor: Expressed concern that the applicant's claim of the project being a "vibrant, diverse center" is misleading given the location is student housing. Expressed lack of confidence in the project's process, citing the lack of clarity on parking provisions and non-compliance with ADA guidelines for sidewalks.
• Kathy Harr (Friends of the Greenway): Urged the commission to include more trails in the 2026 T SPLOST, referencing a petition with 600 signatures.
• Andy Savoy (CoreSpace): Expressed full support for the development agreement, highlighting community benefits including $7.8 million to the Affordable Housing Fund, minority contractor outreach, and nonprofit incubator spaces.
• Aaron Redman (Former Greenway Employee): Expressed support for Greenway funding, emphasizing the Greenway's role as a viable transportation network for commuters, not just recreation.
• Theresa Omanovich (North East Georgia Black Chamber): Expressed full support for the Doherty Street project, noting it addresses a historical disparity in minority business procurement (409 million spend vs. 2% minority spend).
• Holly Fuller (Five Star Painting): Expressed support for the Doherty Street project, citing the opportunity for local minority businesses.
• Charlie Barrow (Occoneechee Rivers Greenway Commission): Urged the commission to set aside funding for the Middle Oconee Greenway expansion, noting it would be the first time in 25 years the Greenway missed T SPLOST funding if not approved.
• Jason Perry (Bike Athens): Expressed support for Greenway funding, emphasizing the Greenway as an equitable, low-cost transportation option essential for mental health and commute safety.
• Chris Mojak: Expressed support for Greenway funding, citing personal experience with the safety benefits of trails for children traveling to school and work.
• Olivia Asher: Expressed support for Greenway funding, highlighting the Greenway as a critical transportation and recreation option for car-free residents.
• Bart King: Expressed support for Greenway funding to address the lack of trails on the west side, while voicing concern that T SPLOST should be used for special projects rather than only maintenance.
• Danielle Gilmer: Expressed support for Greenway funding and the expansion toward Beach Haven Park.
• Benet Coleman: Expressed full opposition to bike funding unless bikes are treated as automobiles requiring registration and tags.
• Michael Goltzer: Expressed support for restoring Greenway funding to the T SPLOST list.
• Tim Denson: Urged the commission to set a hard date for the installation of storage lockers for the unhoused should the new right-of-way ordinance pass.
• Alan Jones: Expressed support for T SPLOST expansion but opposition to earmarking a majority for maintenance; expressed strong support for Greenway funding as a primary reason for returning to Athens.
• Commissioner Myers: Expressed concern regarding the process and lack of broad commission involvement in the Doherty Street deal, stating he does not agree that the land swap is the best use of ACC land.
• Commissioner Thornton: Voiced concern that the Doherty Street project's 1,400 student housing units will surround Lay Park, potentially altering the park's usage by young people; stated she does not believe the community needs more student housing. Expressed concern about the future of Bethel Homes residents if housing authority properties are privatized.
• Commissioner Taylor: Expressed concern that Bethel Homes and Scatter site residents, including those of the Housing Authority, face displacement due to upcoming private developments and highway construction near Highway 29.
• Commissioner Johnson: Expressed dissatisfaction with the "legislative monologue" process, stating she wants a true dialogue and strategy for community impact before voting, particularly regarding the potential displacement of unhoused individuals to other districts.
• Commissioner Link: Expressed support for the Doherty Street project as a model for community benefit, despite reservations about student housing saturation.

Discussion Items

• Lay Park Landmark Designation: Discussed the historical significance of Thomas Lay Park for Black Athenians and the role of the Model Cities program. Commissioner Thornton highlighted the personal impact of the resolution on community peace. Commissioner Link called for a broader commission effort to identify and fund historic designations across the county.
• Zoning Change (293 Hoyt Street): Commissioners debated a resolution to rezone 1.53 acres from government to commercial downtown. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of a comprehensive overlay map, the definition of "provisions" for park parking during construction, and perceived non-compliance with ADA guidelines. The staff confirmed the rezone does not bind the council to a specific future project.
• Doherty Street Development Agreement (CoreSpace): Extensive discussion occurred regarding the project's $180 million budget, the retention of the historic Foundry building, the $7.8 million contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund, and the commitment to 425 parking spaces and minority contractor utilization. Commissioners expressed skepticism about the process transparency, the impact on the existing neighborhood (specifically Lay Park and Bethel Homes), and the saturation of student housing. Commissioner Thornton and others voiced concerns about the long-term impact on community cohesion and the displacement of lower-income residents.
• Right-of-Way Ordinances: Discussion focused on the adoption of ordinances to clarify obstructing sidewalks and abandoning property. Commissioners emphasized that the intent is not to criminalize the unhoused population but to protect businesses. Requests were made for a timeline for providing lockers to the unhoused and for the police department to be included in enforcement training. Commissioner Davenport noted a future meeting with the Homeless Coalition is planned.
• T SPLOST 2026 Funding: Discussion centered on the inclusion of the Greenway in the T SPLOST 2026 list. The council agreed to extend the program to a sixth year. A consensus was reached to include the Winterville intersection roundabout ($9 million) as a condition for the Interlocal Agreement (IGA) with Winterville, with the final project list to be finalized by January 20th. Commissioners urged for equitable funding for the Middle Oconee Greenway.
• Mental Health Recovery Center: Discussion on the waiver of water and wastewater connection fees for the Invantage project. Commissioner Johnson inquired about the equity of fee waivers for individuals below the poverty line, but was clarified that the waiver applies only to connection fees, not monthly charges, and that staff generally pass construction savings to occupants.

Key Outcomes

• Lay Park Landmark: Resolution to designate Lay Park as a historic landmark passed with a vote of 7 aye, 0 opposed, 1 abstention (Commissioner Johnson).
• 293 Hoyt Street Rezoning: The Future Land Use map amendment passed (6 aye, 4 no). The Zoning change (Park to CD) passed (6 aye, 4 no).
• Doherty Street Development Agreement: Approval of the development agreement passed (6 aye, 4 no). The four dissenting votes (Commissioners Johnson, Taylor, Myers, Fisher) were based on concerns regarding the land swap, parking, student housing saturation, and the displacement of Bethel Homes residents.
• Carter Development Withdrawal: Approval was granted to withdraw the application for 2415 Jefferson Road to allow for further discussion with residents.
• Mental Health Center Fee Waiver: Motion to waive 100% of water and wastewater connection fees for the Invantage Mental Health Recovery Center passed unanimously (7 aye, 0 no, 1 abstention).
• Right-of-Way Ordinances: Three ordinances regarding obstructing sidewalks, service categories, and property abandonment passed unanimously (7 aye, 0 no, 1 abstention).
• T SPLOST 2026: Motion to approve a sixth year of T SPLOST, including the Winterville roundabout project, passed (7 aye, 0 no, 1 abstention). The final project list is to be presented on January 20th.
• Audit Acceptance: Acceptance of the investigative audit on the ACC organizational structure passed unanimously.
• Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Dexter Fisher was re-elected as Mayor Pro Tem for the term.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned following commissioner reports and a moment of silence for the five officers who died during the January 6th Capitol attack (note: the transcript references the 5th anniversary of the event on Jan 6, 2026).