Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): Commission District 03 Super District 07
Application of Dr. Anterro Graham c/o Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc. to rezone property from O-I (Office-Institution) zoning district to C-1 (Local Commercial) zoning district to allow a landscape business and related uses, at 3089 Snapfinger Road.
Body
PETITION NO: D4-2024-1111 Z-24-1247192
PROPOSED USE: Landscape business and related uses.
LOCATION: 3089 Snapfinger Road, Decatur, Georgia 30034
PARCEL NO. : 15 096 03 009
INFO. CONTACT: Lucas Carter, Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of Dr. Anterro Graham c/o Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc. to rezone property from O-I (Office-Institution) zoning district to C-1 (Local Commercial) zoning district to allow for al landscape business and related uses.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (February 2025) Approval w/conditions. (October 2024) Full cycle deferral.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (March 4, 2025) Denial. (November 7, 2024) Two-cycle deferral.
PLANNING STAFF: (March 2025) Denial. (Nov. 2024) Two-Cycle Deferral.
STAFF ANALYSIS: This application was deferred from the November 2024 agenda cycle to allow sufficient time for the applicant to clarify the scope of their application. Based on subsequent information from the applicant, the proposed rezoning is to allow for the parking of fleet landscape vehicles overnight in the garage bays of the existing structure, and to allow office use within the existing building. The applicant has indicated there will be no overnight parking of vehicles outside the garage bays of the existing structure. The proposed scope of application falls under the Landscape Business land use category of the Zoning Ordinance and would require a rezoning to C-1 (Local Commercial). This property falls within an area of office zoned (O-I) parcels along Snapfinger Road which are adjacent to single-family uses. Given the Suburban (SUB) Character area policy to protect adjacent and surrounding single-family neighborhoods, the proposed rezoning would result in an intensification of commercial zoning along this stretch of Snapfinger road. This may undermine the goal of protecting nearby single-family neighborhoods. However, if the use is limited to the proposal, including the indoor parking of fleet vehicles, the impact on the neighborhood may be minimal. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Planning & Sustainability Department that the application be “Denied”. However, should the Board of Commissioners desire to approve the rezoning, Staff offers the attached conditions.
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (March 4, 2025) Denial 6-1-0. Jon West moved, Jan Costello seconded for denial, per Staff recommendation. Edward Patton opposed; Winton Cooper was not present for this vote. (November 7, 2024) Two-cycle deferral 6-0-0. Jan Costello moved, Jana Johnson seconded for a two-cycle deferral to the March 2025 zoning agenda.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: (February 2025) Approval with conditions 6-3-1. Council recommended approval with the following conditions: 1. Existing tree buffers to be preserved; 2. Parking must be located within existing enclosed structure; and, 3. Applicant to meet with the community prior to Planning Commission meeting. (October 2024) Full Cycle Deferral 7-0-0 to allow the amended rezoning request to be properly re-advertised.