MEMBERS: Jonathan Eady, Chair; Jeff Wearing,
Vice-Chair; Penny England and Ron Manson. Absent were Shawn Gaither who was out of town working and Vivian Harris who was ill.
STAFF:
Bob Schwartz, city manager and zoning administrator.
GUESTS: Pastor Josh Roberts and Richard
Henderson from Allen Memorial United Methodist Church and Kendra Mayfield from
Oxford College.
OPENING:
Mr. Eady called the meeting to order and welcomed the guests.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Upon motion of Mr. Manson, seconded
by Ms. England, the minutes for the meeting of February 9, 2016 were approved. (The Planning Commission did not meet in
March.)
ALLEN MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH SIGN PERMIT -
Richard Henderson submitted a sign permit request on behalf of Allen Memorial
for two signs (one at the corner of Pierce and Emory and one at the corner of
Hull and Fletcher). Mr. Eady opened the
discussion by reporting that he had reread the entire sign ordinance. It does
not appear that an off premises sign is permitted by the sign ordinance.
Presently, no churches have off premises signs except for an existing sign for
Allen Memorial which is on property owned by Oxford College.
Mr. Eady
referenced Section 40-936. -
Prohibited signs
“(a) The following signs are hereby expressly prohibited
from erection, construction, repair, alteration, or use within the City, except
as otherwise permitted in this chapter: . . .
(2)Off-premises
signs, including billboards.”
Mr. Eady
noted that the only possible exception he could find would be for directional
signs but that the definition did not include church signs erected by the
church. The definition is contained in section 40 – 927.
“Directional sign
means a sign permanently erected or permitted in the public right-of-way or
private property by the state, or other governmental agency to denote the name
of any thoroughfare, the route to any city, town, village, educational
institution, public building, historic place, shrine, or hospital, to direct
and regulate traffic, to denote any railroad crossing, bridge, or other
transportation or transmission company for the direction or safety of the
public.”
Mr.
Manson noted that it is the duty of the Planning Commission to treat every
applicant the same way. And that one of the purposes of the sign ordinance was
to limit the number of signs within Oxford.
Mr. Eady
noted that it might be possible for the town to put up a sign for the church as
an historic site. Mr. Wearing noted that the entire town is a historic site
according to the Methodist Church. It is a Methodist Church shrine.
Pastor
Roberts asked how could we get a sign approved? Mr. Eady noted that the Council
could amend the ordinance to permit any sign by any church. However, that would
result in a great many more signs in town. There is a reason the ordinance is
written this way - it is to limit the number of signs in town. And then there
is the issue of locating the sign within the right-of-way. If it is within
Highway 81 right-of-way it would require permission from Georgia DOT.
After
further discussion Mr. Henderson said that he would withdraw the application.
He and Pastor Roberts would look into another way to get the sign approved.
Mr. Wearing
noted that the Planning Commission understood and sympathized with their
situation.
Oxford College Demolition Permit
Request - Oxford
College has submitted a development permit application for the demolition of
the house at 604 Emory Street. Mr. Eady asked Ms. Mayfield to summarize the
situation. She noted that the original intent was to restore this house. The College
had abated the asbestos and then through one delay or another the house has
deteriorated and is now mold infested and unusable. The college has determined it
is best to demolish it.
Meet Mr.
Eady asked what the plan was for the eventual use of the land. Ms. Mayfield
replied that in the short term it will be green space. The area where the house
will be torn down will be seeded with grass.
Mr. Manson
reminded the College that any building located on the site will have to be of a
residential character.
Mr. Eady
wanted it placed in the record that Emory University at the main campus is now
a client of his so in most cases involving the University and the College he
will abstain.
Mr. Wearing
asked if it had been determined that the current status of the house is unsafe.
Ms. Mayfield replied that it is. The plan is to have it torn down very soon.
Upon motion of Mr. Wearing, seconded
by Ms. England the request for the development permit to permit the demolition
of the house at 604 Emory Street was approved as submitted. The vote was three
in favor with Mr. Eady abstaining.
Mr. Eady
asked Ms. Mayfield if she could give the Planning Commission an overview of
future construction projects. She said they were concentrating on building the
dining hall. In addition, soon they would be starting on the renovation of the
Pierce Science Building.
PLANNING COMMISSION TRAINING – Mr. Wearing gave a short report on
the planning commission training he had attended in Athens. There were 60
people from all over the state and he learned a lot.
CHAIR’S COMMENTS – Before adjourning the meeting, Mr.
Eady suggested to the members that it would be a good idea for them to review
the sections of the Zoning Ordinance that apply to each application before each
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Eady adjourned the meeting at 7:40
PM.
Submitted
by:
Bob
Schwartz, zoning administrator