Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): COMMISSION DISTRICT 03 SUPER DISTRICT 07
Application of Rosalie Ezekiel for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to operate a private school in R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) zoning district, at 2135 Shamrock Drive.
Body
PETITION NO: N3-2024-0363 SLUP-24-1246906
PROPOSED USE: Private school.
LOCATION: 2135 Shamrock Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032
PARCEL NO. : 15-154-01-095
INFO. CONTACT: Adam Chappell, Sr. Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of Rosalie Ezekiel for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to operate a private school in R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) zoning district.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (April 10, 2024) Approval.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (May 2, 2024) Approval with condition/s.
PLANNING STAFF: Approval with condition/s.
STAFF ANALYSIS: The applicant, Rosalie Ezekiel (on behalf of Global Village Project Inc), is requesting a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to establish a private school, as is required in an R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) Zoning District. Per State regulations, the closest equivalent for the proposal would be a private middle school. The subject property was developed with three (3) buildings and site improvements in the early 1960s. Evidence suggests that the buildings on-site have been used as a place of worship and/or private school since their initial construction. The most recently established use on the property was a place of worship with a school as an accessory use. At the time of this SLUP request, no major site improvements are proposed. The application states repaving and reorganization of the parking area as a future phase of development, which would likely require a Land Development Permit (LDP). There are some existing nonconforming features of the site (setbacks and lot coverage, for example) that may require variances in the future upon application for an LDP; however, the only proposed work that would result in association with this current SLUP request are for the repair and replacement of the existing structures. Based on the submitted information, the existing buildings will house administrative offices, a theater, a library, classrooms, and a cafeteria for exclusive use by teachers, other staff, and/or students. The proposed hours of operation will be from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, exclusively on weekdays. At the time of this analysis, a minimum of 40 students are expected and capacity is not expected to exceed 100 students in the future. The entirety of the student population will be transported to the site via bus; no drop-off or pick-up from parents or guardians is anticipated. The existing parking area will be used exclusively for teachers or other staff. No concerns have been identified by Planning Staff or other departmental agencies, and there has been no significant opposition to the proposal from neighborhood residents or from Community Council members. The intensity of the use and property would be less intense than a public school in comparison, and is not expected to have significant noise, traffic, or otherwise adverse effects on the existing neighborhood. The proposed use is compatible with the Suburban (SUB) Character Area of the DeKalb County 2050 Unified Plan and meets the criteria of Section 7.4.6. of the Zoning Ordinance. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Planning and Sustainability Department that this request for a Special Land Use Permit be “Approved with the attached condition”.
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (May 2, 2024) Approval with condition/s 7-0-0. Edward Patton moved, Vivian Moore seconded for approval with one (1) condition, per Staff recommendation.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: (April 10, 2024) Approval 13-0-0.