Public Hearing: YES ☒ NO ☐ Department: Planning & Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
COMMISSION DISTRICT(S): Commission District 03 Super District 07
Application of Greater Stanton Grove MBC c/o Yvonne Reeves for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to allow a place of worship in the R-100 (Residential Medium Lot-100) zoning district, at 4031 Rainbow Drive.
Body
PETITION NO: N11-2026-0148 SLUP-26-1247926
PROPOSED USE: Place of worship.
LOCATION: 4031 Rainbow Drive, Decatur, GA 30034
PARCEL NO. : 15 125 05 015
INFO. CONTACT: Lucas Carter, Planner
PHONE NUMBER: 404-371-2155
PURPOSE:
Application of Greater Stanton Grove MBC c/o Yvonne Reeves for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to allow a place of worship in the R-100 (Residential Medium Lot-100) zoning district.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: (Feb. 2026) Approval.
PLANNING COMMISSION: (March 3, 2026) Approval.
PLANNING STAFF: (March 2026) Approval.
STAFF ANALYSIS: The applicant requests a Special Land Use Permit to operate a place of worship on property zoned R-100, where church use is permitted only with Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) approval. The applicant proposes to utilize an existing building and associated site improvements, with no building expansion or major site reconfiguration proposed. The applicant states the congregation is small and community-focused, with average Sunday attendance of approximately twenty (20) individuals. Based on review of county records, a place of worship previously operated on this site several years ago without a SLUP. The applicant now wants to re-open the church which triggered the need for the SLUP application. Hours of operation are limited to Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional special events such as revivals or multi-night services. The applicant states these occasional events would occur indoors, would be limited to up to three (3) consecutive evenings a few times per year (typically four to five), and would generally occur between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM with no outdoor amplified sound. The applicant indicates the site provides sixty (60) on-site parking spaces and asserts parking demand is expected to remain well below available capacity. Staff finds the site and existing improvements can support the proposed use at the stated scale. The applicant’s anticipated attendance and limited schedule are expected to generate minimal traffic volumes, primarily on weekends, and the available on-site parking supply appears adequate to contain parking demand within the property. The applicant also identifies planned landscaping improvements and selective fencing for safety. The applicant notes a potential future digital sign; staff notes that any sign installation would be subject to separate review and permitting and must comply with applicable sign regulations. A required community meeting was held on December 1, 2025, at the subject property with approximately twenty-seven (27) attendees. The applicant reports that no significant concerns or objections were raised, and residents expressed interest in potential community-benefit partnerships. Residents also indicated some were under the impression the building was already zoned for a place of worship. Based on the submitted information, staff finds the proposed use, as described, is compatible with surrounding residential properties due to the modest scale of the congregation, indoor operations, limited hours, and on-site parking capacity. It appears that the proposed use is generally consistent with Comprehensive Plan policy supporting community-serving institutional uses within established residential areas when appropriately scaled and supported by existing infrastructure (2050 Comprehensive Plan, page 41. Public services, utilities, and access appear adequate for the proposed use and no outdoor activity, amplified sound, or late-night operations are proposed as part of the regular schedule. In summary, the applicant’s proposed place of worship is a conditionally permitted use in the R-100 zoning district subject to SLUP approval. The proposed operation complies with the place of worship supplemental regulations of Section 4.2.44 of the Zoning Ordinance (see attached) , including meeting the three-acre minimum with frontage along an arterial road. Based on the modest scale of operations, adequate on-site parking, limited hours, indoor activity, and lack of identified neighborhood concerns through the community meeting process, it appears that the proposal can operate without adverse impacts to adjacent properties. Therefore, based on review of Section 7.4.6 (SLUP criteria), Staff recommends “Approval”.
PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE: (March 3, 2026) Approval 6-0-1. Motion was made by Commissioner Patton, seconded by Commissioner Moore for approval, per Staff recommendation. Commissioner Snipes abstained.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTE/RECOMMENDATION: (February 2026) Approval 10-0-0.