Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission Voting Meeting - November 4, 2026

The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission met for their regular voting meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, moved from its usual Tuesday due to Election Day. The lengthy agenda was dominated by a highly contentious proposed planned development at Reese and West Broad Streets, which drew hours of public testimony. The commission ultimately voted to hold the item for 40 days to allow staff to review fresh developer modifications regarding parking. Other major actions included approving the Cottages at Green Acres subdivision, renaming a street to Big Dog Way, and adopting zoning text amendments on building heights and inclusionary zoning.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 were approved in a single vote. Items 4, 7, and 10 were pulled for individual discussion and later approved.
• Item 1: An ordinance to amend the FY2027 operating capital budget for an employee market increase and a tax fuel administrator supplement.
• Item 2: An ordinance to amend the SPLOST 2020 program budget for the Fire Station Number 1 replacement project.
• Item 3: An ordinance to establish the budget for the TSPLOST 2026 program.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 12: Reese & West Broad Street Planned Development

• David Ellison (Applicant Attorney): Argued the site requires CD zoning due to a challenging stream and 75-ft riparian buffer. He stated multiple previous developers could not make the site work. Presented community benefits including a $2.2 million payment in lieu for the inclusionary housing fund, $2 million in public utility improvements, a commemorative park for Hill First Baptist Church, and stream restoration. Proposed off-site parking arrangements resulting in an 82% parking ratio.
• Tommy Sinet (Developer, Cardinal Group): Urged approval, describing the property as a blighted and dilapidated dump that has been a public health hazard for three decades. Stated the proposed plan is the only viable scenario for the site.
• Marvin Nunnley (Athens Masonic Association): Expressed support for the project, highlighting the developer as a good partner for charitable work and community economic impact.
• Hope Eichelhart (237 N Church St): Expressed strong support as a descendant of the community, stating she was disappointed in Commissioner Wright for dismissing the black community's voice. She argued, "Intimidation is not advocacy."
• Laura Smothers (Hill First Baptist Church / Joy Village School): Expressed support, emphasizing that the developer gave agency to the black community historically displaced by urban renewal.
• Solomon Smothers (Hill First Baptist Church): Supported the project, stating the developer is the type that Athens needs because they listened and the voices of the community must be prioritized.
• Rev. Dr. Allison Henderson Brooks (Hill First Baptist Church): Spoke in full support, detailing how the developer incorporated the church's feedback on park design, building facades, and unit reduction. Accused Commissioner Wright of a lack of due diligence toward the church.
• Joseph Bates (Design Team): Supported the density, arguing that developers cannot provide community benefits without it.
• Liz DeMarco (327 Hill St): Opposed, arguing the development oversteps the recently adopted future land use map and represents another luxury student high-rise with insufficient parking.
• Matthew Scott (Owner, Big City Bread): Opposed, citing the parking situation on Finley and Meigs as an atrocity and expressing safety concerns.
• Gwendolyn Ayer (254 Deering St): Opposed, urging the commission to respect the planning framework adopted six months ago and preserve historic neighborhoods.
• Dina Kushner (178 Deering St): Opposed, arguing the rezone violates the future land use map and would create an oversized development blocking the view of downtown.
• John Nicholson (197 Deering St): Opposed, calling insufficient parking a "fatal flaw" and urging the commission to separate the park concept from the oversized building.
• Kathy Kerbo (890 Hill St): Opposed, warning of an oversupply of student housing by 2029 and criticizing the stream relocation as an environmental injustice behind the property of Eugene Odum, the father of modern ecology.
• Gary Whitworth (398 Deering St): Opposed, stating the development would lose 40 existing on-street spaces and create a 214-space shortfall that the neighborhood cannot absorb.
• Kim Moss (220 Deering St): Opposed, noting the requested density is seven times the current zoning and is not sustainable for the small site.

Item 13: Cottages at Green Acres (2295 Barnett Shoals Rd & 170 Forest Rd)

• Kent Middleton (Green Acres Crestwood Community Association): Strongly supported the project, noting it is the first appropriate development proposal for the lot in 25 years. The developer met with the neighborhood and incorporated feedback. The design and scale are compatible with the community.

Item 14: Big Dog Way (Epps Bridge Lane Name Change)

• TJ Stevens and Sue Stevens: Supported the name change to honor Terry "Big Dog" Stevens, reduce address confusion for deliveries, and celebrate his community legacy.

Old and New Business

• Judge Chuck Oslender & Judge Donnrell Green: Urged the commission to keep the judicial complex project moving forward.
• Kristen Morales (Planning Commission Chair): Opposed Item 20 (zoning timeline modification), arguing a one-cycle hold rule is too restrictive for the planning commission's process.
• Sheriff John Q. Williams: Supported Item 22 (HEAT grant), seeking to reduce traffic fatalities and support the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Discussion Items

Item 12: Reese & West Broad Street Planned Development

• The commission faced a motion to deny from Commissioner Wright and a substitute motion to hold the item for 40 days from Commissioner Myers.
• Commissioner Link supported holding, expressing "real consternation" about changing the newly adopted future land use map and citing severe parking dangers in historic neighborhoods.
• Commissioner Taylor supported the project, arguing the body has set a precedent of allowing developments without community benefits, and this project exceeds what has been asked of any previous developer.
• Commissioner Johnson supported the project, praising the developer's extensive outreach and course-corrections as rare in his experience.
• Commissioner Hamby opposed holding, arguing the property simply does not work for this density, the riparian buffer is a major issue, and 11th-hour changes should not be considered on the floor.
• Commissioner Wright supported denial, emphasizing the complexity of the stream restoration, the staff recommendation, and ACC's stewardship responsibilities.
• Commissioner Myers noted the parking proposal was received the day of the meeting and could not be evaluated without staff feedback.
• Commissioner Culpepper supported holding to allow the developer's revised parking plan to be formally reviewed.

Item 15: Building Heights

• Staff prepared a proposal to only increase building heights in the Commercial Downtown (CD) zone, sending CG, CO, and CN back for future consideration.
• Commissioner Link argued for a careful, nuanced approach with public input sessions, citing the dangers of 100-foot buildings on corridors like Hawthorne and West Broad overhanging neighborhoods.
• The commission approved the staff proposal.

Item 16: Inclusionary Zoning Payment in Lieu Expansion

• Staff prepared a version allowing payment-in-lieu options in CG, CO, CN, and RM districts but restricting parking reduction incentives to the CD zone.
• Commissioner Taylor opposed, expressing distaste for language about low-income families and transit in the report and arguing developers do not want affordable housing.
• Commissioner Link supported the expansion as a critical tool to get money into the affordable housing fund.
• The commission approved the text amendment.

Item 20: Modification of the Zoning Timeline

• The proposal sought to create a uniform one-cycle hold rule for the planning commission.
• Commissioner Thornton wanted to hold the item for direct input from the planning commission. Commissioner Wright moved to approve.
• The ordinance change required six votes to pass. The roll call resulted in 5 in favor and 3 opposed. The motion failed, and the item will be placed on the agenda for the next month.

Key Outcomes

• Item 12 (Reese & West Broad PD): Motion to hold the item for up to 40 days passed 6-2. The future land use map amendment and rezoning request are held concurrently while staff reviews the developer's parking modifications and alternative plans. Attorney Drake noted that submitted plan changes may automatically require the item to be sent back to the planning commission for a new recommendation.
• Item 11 (4730 Old Lexington Rd Fire Station): Future land use (Rural to Government) and rezoning (AR to G) approved.
• Item 13 (Cottages at Green Acres): Future land use map change and rezoning (AR to RS-5 PD) approved.
• Item 14 (Big Dog Way): Street name change from Epps Bridge Lane to Big Dog Way approved.
• Item 15 (Building Heights): Text amendment approved to limit height increases to the CD zone only.
• Item 16 (Inclusionary Zoning): Text amendment approved 7-1, expanding payment-in-lieu options without extending parking reduction incentives outside of CD.
• Item 20 (Zoning Timeline): Ordinance change failed 5-3, falling short of the required six votes.
• Items 4, 7, 10, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23: All approved.