[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:12]
WAYNE WATSON. I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE EASTPOINTE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
AT. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUR REGULARLY, REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
JULY. I MEAN AUGUST 20TH, 26 TO ORDER. STAFF, WILL YOU PLEASE ROLL CALL TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM? THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR WATSON. COMMISSIONER LEVITT PRESENT. COMMISSIONER MILLER, CHAIRMAN.
MILLER. VICE CHAIR. WATSON. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER WADE. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. PRESLEY.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. DEMERY. COMMISSIONER. REED. COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, PRESENT.
VICE CHAIR. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. NOW, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE ALL STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. YOU GOT YOUR MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FIRST. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO START THE PRESENT PLEDGE. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SORRY. OH, IT'S OVER HERE NOW.
[V. Approval of July 2026 PC Minutes]
COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE. THE JUNE, JULY 20TH SIX MINUTES. MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE JULY 20TH MEETING MINUTES. I SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOTIONED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE ADOPT THE JULY 2026 MEETING MINUTES. ALL IN FAVOR? I. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, WE HAVE ADOPTED THE MEETING MINUTES.[VI. Adoption of Agenda]
DIRECTOR SMITH. YES. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX ON TODAY'S AGENDA. MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY. SECOND. DO I HAVE ANY.ALL THE. ALL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY I. I ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, SEEING NONE. THE AGENDA IS BEEN. ADOPTED. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS NEW BUSINESS. YES.
[VII.1. P2026V-001-06]
DIRECTOR SMITH IN REFERENCE, NEW BUSINESS. OKAY. IN REFERENCE TO THE NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE CASE NUMBER P 2000 2026-001-06. CAN YOU SOUND THE CASE, PLEASE? YES, VICE[00:05:02]
CHAIRMAN, IN REFERENCE TO ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER ONE, CASE NUMBER P2026-001-06.THE APPLICANT, JENNIFER WOLF, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 834 CLEVELAND AVENUE. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A VARIANCE FROM CHAPTER SEVEN, SIGNED SECTIONS TEN DASH 7017 TO ALLOW FOR A TEN FOOT MONUMENT SIGN WITHIN THE C2M ZONING DISTRICT. CASE TYPE IS A VARIANCE. THANK YOU.
THE AGENDA REQUIRES A HEARING AT THE TIME. AT THIS TIME I WILL READ THE RULES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE TO SECTION TEN DASH 2219 OF THE EASTPOINTE ZONING CODE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS. PERSONS BOTH FAVORING AND OPPOSING THE PROPOSED CASE WILL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. THE APPLICANT IN THE ZONING CASE OR APPLICANT DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE ENTITLED TO SPEAK FIRST, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKERS IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES. THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED ZONING CASE WILL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES AS WELL. THE BY MAJORITY VOTE, THE COMMISSIONERS MAY INCREASE THE TIME. THE TOTAL TIME OF SPEAKERS, PROVIDED THAT EACH SIDE IS PROVIDED THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEAK. IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SPEAKER FOR A SIDE, THE CHAIR OR PRESIDING OFFICER MAY LIMIT THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. EACH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER OTHER THAN THE ZONING APPLICANT. THE ZONING APPLICANT MAY RESERVE A PORTION OF HIS OR HER ALLOTTED TIME FOR REBUTTAL. SPEAKERS MUST ADHERE TO THE RULES OF DECORUM PRIOR TO SPEAKING. EACH SPEAKER SHALL IDENTIFY HIM OR HERSELF AND STATE HIS OR HER CURRENT ADDRESS. EACH SPEAKER SHALL ONLY SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE UNDER CONSIDERATION SHALL ADDRESS REMARKS ONLY TO THE COMMISSION, AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS OR ANY OTHER SPEAKER. THE PRESIDING OFFICER MAY REFUSE A SPEAKER THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE. IF AT FIRST BEING CAUTIONED, THE SPEAKER CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE RULES OF DECORUM. YOU HAVE HEARD OUR RULES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING STAFF. WE HAVE. YOU HAVE SOUNDED THE CASE AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONERS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED. IT HAS BEEN MOTIONED AND MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LOVETT THAT WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE NUMBER P 2026, V-001-06. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I I. ALL IN ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY. HEARING NONE. ALL THE AYES HAVE IT. THE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN FOR CASE NUMBER P ZERO. I MEAN P2026V-001-06 WITH THE APPLICANT. PLEASE STEP TO THE PODIUM. PODIUM, STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS. MY OFFICE ADDRESS? THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JENNIFER WOLF. FOR THE I'M SORRY, MY ADDRESS IS 4113 NORTH SWAN STREET, COVINGTON, GEORGIA, 30014. I. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSION MEMBERS. STAFF ANALYSIS FIRST. OKAY. SORRY. I'M HERE THIS EVENING AS AGENT FOR MCDONALD'S AND HENRY INCORPORATED. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO HUMBLY REQUEST APPROVAL OF A SIGNED HEIGHT VARIANCE FOR THE MCDONALD'S. LOCATED AT 834 CLEVELAND AVENUE.
THE EXISTING ROAD SIGN MUST BE RELOCATED OUTSIDE THE GDOT ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT AREA. THIS
[00:10:02]
RELOCATION IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF A PUBLIC ROADWAY EXPANSION. IT IS NOT A PART OF A VOLUNTARY SITE REDESIGN OR REBRANDING INITIATIVE. THE PROPOSED SIGN WILL REMAIN 21FT■!S, WITH NO INCREASE IN SIGN AREA OR NUMBERS OF SIGNS. ITS PROPOSED HEIGHT IS APPROXIMATELY TEN FEET AND THREE QUARTER INCH, WHICH IS ABOUT 14.25IN LOWER THAN THE EXISTING SIGN. THE RELOCATED SIGN WILL ALSO FEATURE A NEW STACKED STONE MONUMENT BASE, RESULTING IN A LOWER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE INSTALLATION. THE PROPERTY PRESENTS SEVERAL UNIQUE PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS. THE RESTAURANT AND SURROUNDING SITE SIT SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE CLEVELAND AVENUE. THE EXISTING BUILDING PLACEMENT DRIVEWAYS, DRIVE THROUGH CIRCULATION, PEDESTRIAN AREAS, NEARBY BUS STOP, LANDSCAPING AND MATURE TREES FURTHER LIMIT THE AVAILABLE LOCATIONS AND VISIBILITY OF THE SIGN. EVEN WITH VEGETATION IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROADWAY EXPANSION, A SIX FOOT SIGN WOULD NOT PROVIDE REASONABLE OR COMPARABLE VISIBILITY FROM CLEVELAND AVENUE IN RELATION TO THE ELEVATION AND OVERALL SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, A SIZE OF THAT HEIGHT WOULD APPEAR DISPROPORTIONATELY SMALL AND WOULD NOT ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY THE BUSINESS. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS REQUEST IS NOT AN EFFORT TO INCREASE ADVERTISING OR CREATE A NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITY MARKETING OPPORTUNITY. THE RELOCATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE GDOT EXPANSION. WE ARE SIMPLY REQUESTING APPROVAL TO PRESERVE THE LEVEL OF BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS AND HAS OPERATED WITHOUT IDENTIFIED ADVERSE IMPACTS. THE REQUEST SATISFIES THE VARIANCE CONSIDERATIONS BECAUSE THE HARDSHIP RESULTS FROM GDOT IMPROVEMENTS AND THE PROPERTY'S EXISTING PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, THE REQUEST REPRESENTS THE MINIMUM RELIEF NECESSARY. THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN SIGN AREA OR NUMBER OF SIGNS THE RESTAURANT USE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. THE EXISTING SIGN HAS OPERATED WITHOUT IDENTIFIED ADVERSE IMPACTS. THE PROPOSED SIGN WILL BE LOWER AND MORE VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE THAN THE EXISTING INSTALLATION. THE HARDSHIP IS NOT SELF-CREATED, THE REQUESTED RELIEF IS LIMITED, AND THE PROPOSAL IMPROVES THE APPEARANCE OF THE PROPERTY WHILE PRESERVING REASONABLE BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION. FOR THESE REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THE SIGN HEIGHT VARIANCE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPONENTS HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ZONING CASE? ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPONENTS HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ZONING CASE? SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OPPONENTS TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ZONING CASE? ARE THERE ANY OPPONENTS TO TO TO THE ZONING CASE? IF THERE ARE ANY PROPONENTS, PLEASE STEP TO THE PODIUM. HEARING NONE. A MOTION TO ENTERTAIN. A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. CHAIR. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED BY THE COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER PRESLEY, THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE NUMBER P2026-001-06. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE I I. ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY, HEARING NONE. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. STAFF, WOULD YOU PLEASE SOUND YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YES, VICE CHAIRMAN, IN REFERENCE TO CASE NUMBER P2026-001-06. STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE. THIS APPLICATION.THIS APPLICATION IS FOR A VARIANCE OF APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER FOUR FEET. FOUR FEET 3.25IN, TO BE EXACT, AND STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT? MR. CHAIR? WITH ANY RESERVATIONS THAT ANYBODY ELSE MAY HAVE? I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS VARIANCE. SECOND.
[00:15:08]
IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE. DO I HAVE ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE. I ALL IN FAVOR, SAY NAY. ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY. HEARING NONE. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE APPROVAL HAS BEEN GRANTED. THANK YOU.I KNOW I WASN'T. AND, VICE CHAIRMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SOUND THIS
[VII.2. P2026U-002-07 P2026VC-001-07]
SECOND CASE? YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. IN REFERENCE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO UNDER NEW BUSINESS CASE NUMBER P20262-002-07. IN CASE NUMBER P 2026-001-07. THE APPLICANT IS ASHLEY MACFARLANE.THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 2956 HOGAN ROAD. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTED A USE PERMIT WITH A FOUR PART CONCURRENT VARIANCE TO OPERATE A SCHOOL IN THE R L RESIDENTIAL LIMITED ZONING DISTRICT. CASE TYPE IS A USE PERMIT WITH CONCURRENT VARIANCES.
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. SORRY I'M LATE. PUBLIC HEARING A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SECOND MOTION. AND IT'S BEEN MOTION AND SECONDED THAT WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. HEARING NONE. THE THE AYES HAVE IT. THE MOTION THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. IS THE APPLICANT HERE TONIGHT? YES.
PLEASE COME UP AND STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
I'M ASHLEY MACFARLANE. MY ADDRESS IS 2956 HOGAN ROAD, EAST POINT, GEORGIA. I AM HERE THIS EVENING PRESENTING A PRESENTATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE REQUEST FOR THE ACADEMIC PODS OF GEORGIA. IT'S A SMALL HOMESCHOOL POD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HOST IN THE BASEMENT OF MY HOME. AND WE'RE PULLING UP. THANK YOU. I HAVE A HANDOUT THAT SUMMARIZES MY PRESENTATION JUST FOR REFERENCE, THAT I CAN SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT OUTLINES WHAT EXACTLY THIS IS.
ARE YOU, MR. TURNER? THANK YOU. WONDERFUL TO FINALLY MEET YOU IN PERSON. THANK YOU. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MICRO SCHOOL HOME POD, SECOND PAGE IS TO PROVIDE A NURTURING AND PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR K THROUGH FIRST GRADERS. THE MISSION CENTERS ON
[00:20:03]
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH, AND INSTILLING A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING IN EVERY CHILD. THE POD OFFERS SMALL, INTENTIONAL CLASS SIZES THAT ALLOW EACH STUDENT TO BE KNOWN BY ITS TEACHER AND CHALLENGED SO THAT WE MAY HAVE A COMMUNITY BASED IN LEARNING AND GROWING, AS AT THE STAGE THAT THE CHILD NEEDS TO. THE LOCATION IN ENROLLMENT.THIS WILL BE HOUSED IN THE FINISHED BASEMENT OF MY ALREADY EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT 2956 HOGAN ROAD. THERE WILL BE NO NEW CONSTRUCTION REQUIRED. THE CLASS SIZE WILL BE CAPPED AT TEN STUDENTS, ENSURING INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION AND A CALM, MANAGEABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE CLASSES WILL MEET TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 8 A.M. TO 1 P.M. WITH AN ELECTIVE ENRICHMENT ON WEDNESDAYS THAT WOULD EXTEND IT UNTIL 2 P.M. NEXT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. THE PERSONALIZED, HANDS ON LEARNING WITH STRONG TEACHER STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS WILL ALLOW THE DAILY CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE, ARTS, CRAFTS AND MUSIC AND GAMES TO CREATE A WELL-ROUNDED FOUNDATION FOR EVERY CHILD. THE SMALL CLASS SIZES, AGAIN WITH THE MAX AT TEN STUDENTS, PROVIDES THREE TIMES MORE INDIVIDUAL FACE TIME WITH THE TEACHERS LESS CHAOTIC, QUIETER, AND MORE ENGAGED STUDENTS, PROVEN BENEFITS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS PROGRAM. MISS EUNICE PATRICK IS PRESENT WITH ME THIS EVENING. FOUNDER AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GEORGIA PODS. SHE'S AN ATLANTA NATIVE AND PROUD SPELMAN GRADUATE.
EUNICE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATING YOUNG CHILDREN AND AN ADVOCATE DEDICATED TO CREATING, NURTURING, PERSONALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR YOUNG STUDENTS IN EAST POINT AND BEYOND. RIGHT AT HER SIDE WOULD BE ERICA ANDERSON, A NEURODIVERGENT INSTRUCTOR WITH 20 PLUS YEARS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. ERICA BRINGS DEEP EXPERTISE AND GENUINE PASSION TO INCLUSIVE LEARNING, ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF LEARNING STYLE, FEEL SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED TO THRIVE. THIS PROGRAM, WE FEEL, IS COMPATIBLE WITH THIS COMMUNITY. I'VE MENTIONED ON EARLIER CALLS THAT I'M ACTUALLY A DAUGHTER OF THE CITY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS EXACT NEIGHBORHOOD. MY MOM WAS PRESENT HERE. DOCTOR MARDELL MCFARLAND LIVES RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, AND I AM COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE POSTURE AND CULTURE AND ESTHETIC OF THE COMMUNITY, THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOME MEANS THAT WITH NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, NO EXPANSION, AND NO CHANGES TO THE RESIDENTIAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYTHING WOULD REMAIN INTACT.
THE MATURE TREES, THE LANDSCAPING AND GREEN SPACE ARE FULLY PRESERVED, WITH ZERO GRADING, EXCAVATION OR DISTURBANCE TO LOCAL WILDLIFE OR HISTORIC RESOURCES. THERE WOULD BE ADULT SUPERVISION MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES AND WITH SCHEDULED AND STAGGERED DROP OFF AND PICK UP WINDOWS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO KEEP TRAFFIC AND NOISE TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM. NO OVERNIGHT EVENTS OR LARGE GATHERINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE PROPERTY. THE MAXIMUM OF TEN STUDENTS WITH THE STAGGERED ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES REDUCES CONGESTION. THE EXISTING DRIVEWAY FULLY ACCOMMODATES PARKING NEEDS FOR OUR TWO ADMINISTRATORS, AND THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR PARENT. IF THERE'S A SITUATION WHERE A PARENT NEEDS TO STAY, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGED FOR DROP AND PICK OFF TO REMAIN CONTINUOUS DURING THE TIMES WHEN THEY ARE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE PROGRAM AND TAKING THEM HOME.
PRIMARILY, INDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL LIMIT THE OUTDOOR TIME, AND WITH NO LARGE EVENTS OUTSIDE, THAT KEEPS THE NOISE LEVEL DOWN AS WELL. THE ADULT SUPERVISION THAT'S MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES ENSURES THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE A DISRUPTION TO THE COMMUNITY, FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE HEALTH, SAFETY AND FIRE CODES KEEPS OUR STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS SAFE AND THERE WILL BE MINIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. AS I SAID BEFORE, NO CONSTRUCTION OR SITE DISTURBANCE. AS A DAUGHTER OF EAST POINT, I'M VERY AWARE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE CITY THAT WAS WITH. IT WAS, I BELIEVE I READ ABOUT IT WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK TO EAST POINT WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD VISION FOR THE CITY, AND I PRESUME IT WILL CONTINUE AND EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS. BUT WE'RE HAPPY THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IN LINE WITH WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE VISION FOR THE CITY TO REINVEST, REINVEST IN EXISTING HOUSING, HOUSING STOCK. WE'RE USING A HOME THAT ALREADY EXISTS. WE'RE NOT CHANGING IT IN ANY WAY, BUT WE ARE REPURPOSING IT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL ACCESS BY PROVIDING YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS. I'M A PARENT OF TWO YOUNG ONES MYSELF THAT I HOMESCHOOLED WHEN THEY WERE MUCH YOUNGER. FOR PARENTS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER AND DEVELOP AND EQUIP THEIR CHILDREN TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL ONCE THEY GO INTO THE LARGER SCHOOL SETTING. NO NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN BY NOT ADDING ANYTHING TO THE HOME OR THE PROPERTY, AND WE'RE PRESERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER BY ENSURING THAT THE HOME STILL FEELS LIKE A HOME, STILL LOOKS LIKE A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO THIS PRESENTATION. I HAVE SHARED ONE EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED FROM A NEIGHBOR WHO WAS UNABLE TO MAKE
[00:25:06]
IT, BUT HE LIVES A COUPLE DOORS DOWN AND WANTED TO SHARE HIS ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT, AND I'M HAPPY TO READ IT IF IT NOW IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME. GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU TO THE EASTPOINTE ZONING BOARD. I AM WRITING AS A RESIDENT, LIVING FOUR DOORS FROM 29566 HOGAN ROAD TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE REQUEST SUBMITTED BY ASHLEY MCFARLAND FOR ACADEMIC PODS OF GEORGIA. A SMALL K THROUGH FIRST GRADE HOMESCHOOL POD PROPOSED FOR THAT PROPERTY. AS A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR 35 YEARS AND HER NEIGHBOR, I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS PROPOSAL CLOSELY AND BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GENUINE ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS LIKE THIS GIVE YOUNG FAMILIES QUALITY, PERSONALIZED EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS CLOSE TO HOME, AND I THINK THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN BENEFITS THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE RAISED SOME CONCERNS, AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THOSE DIRECTLY. AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PROPOSED FACILITY, THE PRECEDENT THAT THIS MAY CREATE A SPACE FOR DAYCARES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A MISCHARACTERIZATION. THE PROGRAM IS NOT A DAYCARE. IT OPERATES ON A GEORGIA HOMESCHOOL ALIGNED CURRICULUM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH FIRST GRADERS. AND IT'S AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM WITH DEFINED CURRICULUM, NOT CHILDCARE. THE TRAFFIC DURING PICK UP AND DROP OFF SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THE ENROLLMENT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS CAPPED AT TEN STUDENTS TO KEEP THE CLASS SETTING SMALL AND INTIMATE, AND THE PICK UP AND DROP OFF TIMES WILL BE STAGGERED. AS A NEIGHBOR, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS CREATING ANY HAZARDOUS OR INCONVENIENT TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON OUR STREET. CHANGES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S ESTHETIC SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE AS WELL. THE POD WILL OPERATE OUT OF THE EXISTING FINISHED BASEMENT WITH NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND THERE'LL BE NO ADDITIONS OR ALTERATIONS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY OR THE LANDSCAPING. THE HOME WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK EXACTLY AS IT DOES TODAY. I LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS PROGRAM IN A WAY THAT OUTSIDE COMMENTERS ARE NOT, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT HERE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE REQUEST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY. ERIC JEFFRIES 2906 DOGWOOD DRIVE. AND HE SHARED HIS EMAIL ADDRESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS MCFARLAND. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPONENTS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS CASE? THANK YOU. PLEASE STEP UP, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DOCTOR MARDELL WALKER MCFARLAND. I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM DOGWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 46 YEARS. AND DURING THAT TIME, MY HUSBAND AND I RAISED FOUR GIRLS THERE. AND HIS ONE THING WAS, WELL, WE'LL SEE. DO WE STAY IN THIS HOUSE? WE HAVE A POOL. THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL PLAY, THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL DATE AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL GRADUATE FROM. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. AND ONE OF THEM WAS SPEAKING TODAY. I'M STANDING HERE TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR 46 YEARS AS WELL, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT CHILDREN THROUGH MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND MY NEIGHBORS. AND ONE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE IS FEELING COMFORTABLE AND SAFE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN A SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT EVERY DAY TO WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE AT HOME. IT'S ALSO BEST FOR PARENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT FAR FROM THEIR CHILDREN, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN, IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. OF THE 26 HOUSES ON THOSE TWO STREETS, I KNOW PERSONALLY, 18 OF THE FAMILIES. I HAVE KNOWN THEM FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY. IT'S A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER, WHICH KEEPS DOWN A LOT OF URBAN PROBLEMS THAT FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT HAD TO EXPERIENCE. CHILDREN LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY'RE COMFORTABLE. PARENTS WORK BETTER WHEN THEY KNOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND THEM THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM AND BE THERE FOR THEM. AND IT IS FOR THE CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE CLOSE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE PARENTS WHO HAVE TO FIGHT WITH DEALING WITH MONEY, HOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE SURE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR CHILDREN QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND AN ARM AND A LEG AND BUY CARS AND TO PAY LARGE GAS AND ALL OF THAT.SO I ASK YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS IS A POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW NEIGHBORHOOD TO FLOURISH, TO HELP CHILDREN, TO BE EDUCATED IN A SAFE AREA, AND FOR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO BE BETTER PARENTS AND PEACEFUL AS THEY RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
[00:30:05]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPONENTS TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS CASE? ARE THERE ANY PROPONENTS IN FAVOR OF TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS CASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OPPONENTS? MA'AM, ARE YOU A PROPONENT? YES. PLEASE STEP UP. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANICE PATRICK. MY ADDRESS IS 1201 GATEWAY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. I AM THE FOUNDER OF ACADEMIC PODS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO INTERJECT THAT THE REASON BEHIND ACADEMIC PODS IS WE'RE ADDRESSING THE THE CONCERN FOR THE READING ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR COUNTRY. AND SO THE CAP OF TEN KIDS, THE GOAL OF KEEPING IT AT TEN KIDS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT TEN KIDS OUT OF HOWEVER MANY IN OUR STATE WHO AREN'T PROFICIENT IN READING. BY THIRD GRADE, WE'VE HELPED TEN KIDS. AND SO YOUR APPROVAL FOR OUR ACADEMIC POD AT THIS LOCATION, YOU ARE A PART OF MAKING SURE TEN KIDS MASTER. I GREW UP MATH WITH UNDERSTANDING. YOU HAVE TO MASTER READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC, SO YOU WILL BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS OF MAKING SURE TEN KIDS HAVE MASTERY IN READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC. AND THAT'S TEN KIDS WHO WE KNOW WILL GO ON. IF THEY CAN MASTER READING, THEY CAN GO FORTH AND DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR MINDSET TO. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ, SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WE WANT TEN KIDS TO JUST MASTER THE BASICS, WHAT WE CAME UP UNDER, AND WE'RE HELPING THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY OPPONENTS TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS ZONING CASE? DO WE HAVE ANY OPPONENTS TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ZONING CASE.HEARING NONE. COMMISSIONERS AT AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT'S BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR SOUND I, I ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY, HEARING NONE. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. STAFF, CAN WE HEAR YOUR RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE? MR. CHAIRMAN, IN REFERENCE TO CASE NUMBER. P TWO ZERO. TWO IN REFERENCE TO CASE NUMBER P20262-002-07. IN CASE NUMBER P2026-001 AND DASH ZERO SEVEN. JUST TO GO THROUGH THE ZONING CASE ON HERE. THE ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY IS RESIDENTIAL LIMITED. THE PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 3.7 PLUS OR MINUS ACRES. THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. DESIGNATE THIS PARCEL AND THIS AREA AS SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL WHICH ALLOWS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL IN NATURE AND A TRADITIONAL URBAN SETTING WHICH IS ASSESSED, WHICH SOMETIMES HAVE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. THE GOAL OF THIS DESIGNATION IS TO FOSTER STABLE, ESTABLISHED SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILDING ON EXISTING MIXES OF HOUSING TYPES IN THE FUTURE. DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL TYPICALLY HAS R ONE, RL, AND AGRICULTURE ONE ZONING DISTRICTS INCLUDED IN IT. WITHIN THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL.
IT DOES ALSO ALLOW FOR SCHOOLS. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, FOR USE PERMIT. THERE ARE SIZE LIMITATIONS AND THE SIZE LIMITATION ARE FOR USE PERMIT FOR A SCHOOL IS A FOUR ACRE MINIMUM. THIS PROPERTY IS APPROXIMATELY 3.7 ACRES IN SIZE AND. FOR THAT REASON, AND SOME OF THE OTHER SITE CONDITIONS, BECAUSE THERE ARE FOUR VARIANCES ON THIS CASE IN REFERENCE TO SIZE AND PROXIMITY AND LIMITATIONS, THERE'S A 100 FOOT BUILDING SETBACK. THERE'S ALSO A 100 FOOT OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SETBACK FROM OTHER PROPERTIES, AND THERE'S ALSO AN ON SITE DROP OFF TURNAROUND REQUIREMENT. AND THOSE ITEMS, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE
[00:35:02]
SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, IT JUST DOES NOT FIT. AND SO FOR THAT REASON, STAFF DID RECOMMEND DENIAL FOR THE CASE. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SMITH. STAFF COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. AND THIS IS DIRECTED TO ATTORNEY RODRIGUEZ.YES. HOW IMPORTANT ACT GEORGIA HOME PORT ACT. HOW DOES THIS KIND OF. FALL WITHIN THAT.
RIGHT. SO THERE'S A STATUTE IN GEORGIA ABOUT QUALIFYING HOMEPODS. AND I THINK THE STATUE IS 2020-2-690. AND THERE IS A LOT OF REGULATORY ABOUT GEORGIA'S LEARNING POD PROTECTION ACT. AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE KIND OF REVIEW THAT OR NOT. AND THEN ALSO I THINK THIS IS FOR DIRECTOR SMITH. CURRENTLY, THE ZONING ALLOWS FOR FAMILY DAYCARES. WHICH IS LIKE SIX PEOPLE. THAT'S CORRECT. UNDER THE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING, IT IS CORRECT. YES.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER WATSON? YES, I THINK, MR. VICE CHAIR, LET ME JUST SAY THAT ILLEGAL DOESN'T DO THE STAFF REPORTS. AND SO IF THERE WAS SOME LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE APPLIED, I WAS NOT. ASKED ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU JUST BROUGHT IT UP. AND SO I CERTAINLY I JUST DID A QUICK LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE. IT'S THE STATUTE IS CALLED THE EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HOME STUDY PROGRAMS, THE LEARNING POD PROTECTION ACT. SO I DID A QUICK LITTLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE, BUT FOR OPTIMAL RESEARCH AND TO ENSURE THAT THE STAFF REPORT ALIGNS WITH THIS CODE SECTION, I'M NOT PREPARED TO GIVE THAT RESPONSE TONIGHT BECAUSE I NEED TO READ IT. SO CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO. DISADVANTAGE THE APPLICANT RIGHT NOW. HEARING THAT THE STAFF REPORT IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL AND THAT YOU GUYS VOTE AND THAT WILL TRIGGER, I THINK, IS IT SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR THAT THEY COULDN'T REAPPLY? I WOULD THEN ASK FOR THIS CASE TO BE DEFERRED TO ALLOW THAT RESEARCH TO OCCUR. THAT MAY OR MAY NOT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT IT SAYS. CHANGE THE STAFF REPORT TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR ANY EXEMPTION FROM LOCAL ZONING ORDINANCE TO OPERATE THIS TYPE OF USE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. MR. CHAIR, I AM GOING TO WITHHOLD UNTIL WE DECIDE IF IT'S A DEFERRAL MOTION TO DEFER. SECOND, IT'S IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN MOTION TO DEFER AND IT'S BEEN SET PROPERLY. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED. SAY NAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE CASE IS DEFERRED. MR. CHAIR. SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION, MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY. YES. AND THAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE CASE. SCHEDULE FOR THE CASE, AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE DIRECTOR SMITH. YES. DIRECTOR SMITH, THE THE WE'VE IT'S BEEN VOTED IT'S BEEN MOTION AND PROPERLY SECOND AND VOTED THAT WE DEFER THIS CASE.
CAN YOU GIVE US THE DATE OF THE NEXT THE NEXT WHERE THIS WHEN THIS WOULD COME BEFORE US AGAIN, NEXT MONTH'S PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE SEPTEMBER. SEPTEMBER 10TH IS THE WORK SESSION, WHICH SHOULD BE THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 17TH, WHICH SHOULD BE THE THIRD. THURSDAY BE ON THE 17TH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. DID I NOT READ THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO
[00:40:05]
BEFORE COUNCIL ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER? WELL, THAT WOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL WE MAKE A DECISION. UNDERSTOOD. MR. CHAIR. YES. CAN WE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE APPLICANT WHAT WE JUST DID? BECAUSE SHE'S LOOKING A LITTLE STUNNED. I WAS KEEPING THAT FOR THE MOST PART, BUT I WOULD LIKE A SUMMARY OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE. WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. AT THIS TIME. THE THE DECISION, THE IT'S BEEN DEFERRED TILL THE NEXT MEETING. WE DO WE WILL NOT NEED TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING AT THAT TIME. WE WILL VOTE ON IT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. THANK YOU.YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE? GREAT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME IT'S TIME FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. STAFF DO YOU
[VIII. Announcements]
HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR US THIS EVENING? WE HAVE OUR PROJECT MANAGER, MISS YASMIN EDGE, COMING UP TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE. WE. RIGHT.THANK YOU, MISS EDGE. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SO WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW THINGS HAPPEN THIS PAST MONTH REGARDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE. WE HAD OUR STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST WHERE WE RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR THE REORGANIZATION AND DIRECTION OF THE PROJECT. WE ALSO MET WITH JEFFERSON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THIS PAST TUESDAY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND GET SOME MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM RESIDENTS. WE HAVE AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP MEETING ON AUGUST 26TH. THAT'S AT 6 P.M. VIA TEAMS, WHERE WE WILL BE GOING OVER A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE MATRIX. THE PLANNING AND ZONING TEAM HAD TO COMPLETE SO OUR VENDOR CAN BEGIN AN ACTUAL ZONING ORDINANCE DRAFT ON SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 6 P.M. HERE IN CITY HALL, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR OPEN HOUSE, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT, TO GET MORE OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT, WE UPDATED THE PROJECT STATUS REPORT AND THAT IS REFLECTED ON THE ZONING ORDINANCE WEB PAGE. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING PRESENTATION AND THE OPEN HOUSE FLIER LIVE ON THE PROJECT'S WEBSITE. AND THEN WE WILL BE HAVING OUR MONTHLY CHECK IN MEETING WITH OUR VENDOR NEXT WEEK. YES, THE BIGGEST THING IS DEFINITELY COME OUT TO THE OPEN HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS? BLESS YOU. HEARING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED THAT WE ADJOURN. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I. I. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.