Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): Commission District 04 Super District 06
Application of Memorial Properties, Inc. c/o Battle Law, P.C. to rezone property from R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) zoning district) to O-I (Office-Institution) zoning district to allow a funeral home in conjunction with an existing cemetery, at 700 Jordan Lane.
Body
PETITION NO: N1-2025-0960 Z-25-1247566
PROPOSED USE: Funeral home, in conjunction with an existing, allowed cemetery.
LOCATION: 700 Jordan Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033
PARCEL NO. : 18 063 09 074
INFO. CONTACT: John Reid, Sr. Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of Memorial Properties, Inc. c/o Battle Law, P.C. to rezone property from R-75 (Residential Medium Lot-75) zoning district) to O-I (Office-Institution) zoning district to allow a funeral home in conjunction with an existing cemetery.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Denial.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (Sept. 9, 2025) Approval.
PLANNING STAFF: Approval.
STAFF ANALYSIS: The subject site contains a large 34-acre cemetery (Washington Memorial Gardens) with two buildings comprising a mausoleum and a business office. Based on historical and county records, it appears that the cemetery was originally established in 1947 and the mausoleum was constructed in circa 2006. The applicant is requesting to convert a portion of the existing business office into a funeral home and allow a small expansion for a chapel. The proposed funeral home is consistent with the INS (Institutional) Character Area calling for development opportunities for institutional uses within the County (INS Character Area, Development Opportunities, page 47). The proposed O-I zoning offers a transition between the MR-1 apartment zoning and M Light industrial zoning to the south and the single-family residential zoning to the north, as well as a transition from the M Light Industrial zoning to the east and the single-family residential zoning (R-75) to the west across Jordan Lane. Based on compliance with the Comprehensive Plan’s INS Character area, the transitional zoning pattern, and consistency with the large cemetery and mausoleum land uses currently existing on the subject property, it appears that the proposed O-I zoning and funeral home would be suitable for the subject property (Section 27-873(A) & (B). Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Planning and Sustainability Department that this application be, "Approved".
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (September 9, 2025) Approval 6-3-0. Commissioner Osler moved, Commissioner Murphy seconded for approval, per Staff recommendation. Commissioner West, Commissioner Patton and Commissioner Cooper opposed.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: Denial 8-0-0.