The Columbus Consolidated Government
Planning Department
Post Office Box 1340 Columbus, Georgia 31902-1340
Telephone (706) 653-4116
Fax (706) 653-4120
Website: www.columbusga.org/planning
STAFF REPORT
REZN-1-12-1095
Applicant:
Foresite Group, Inc / George W. Mize, Jr.
Owner:
Columbus Bank & Trust / Lynchar, Inc. c/o Circle K Stores
Location
5445 and 5447 Forrest Road
Acreage:
1.472
acres
Current Zoning Classification:
NC (Neighborhood Commercial)
Proposed Zoning Classification:
GC (General Commercial)
Current Use of Property:
Columbus Bank & Trust (5445) and Gas Station (5447)
Proposed Use of Property:
CVS Pharmacy
Council District:
District 4 (Turner-Pugh)
Planning Advisory Commission's Recommendation:
Conditional Approval
based on the fact that the request is compatible with existing land uses. The recommended conditions are: 1) Allow for an increase in the number of parking spaces from 53 spaces to 63 spaces (change from 1 space per 250 sq. ft. to 1 space per 210 sq. ft.). 2) Reduce the minimum parking lot drive aisle width from 24 feet to 22 feet. 3) Reduce the minimum
parking space dimensions from 9’ x 20’ to 9’ x 18’. 4) In order to accommodate the future Forrest Road Widening Project, the applicant is requesting to reduce the street buffers along the public right of ways (Forrest Road and Woodruff Farm Road) from five (5) feet to the shortest distance measured from the back of the parking lot curbing to the property/Right-of-Way line. The owner will plant the trees and other plantings along said right-of-ways in said reduced buffers as required by the UDO and shall be allowed to use as much of the City's right of way as necessary to so comply, provided the total buffer need not to exceed five (5) feet in width. Further, the owner of the property shall be responsible to maintain any portion of the City's right of way used as described above. These conditions have been reviewed by the Engineering Department and City Arborist.
Planning Departments Recommendation:
Conditional Approval
based on the fact that the request is compatible with existing land uses. The recommended conditions are the same as those recommended by the Planning Advisory Commission.
Fort Benning's Rcommendation:
N/A.
DRI Rcommendation:
N/A.
General Land Use:
Inconsistent
Planning Area E
Land Use Designation:
Neighborhood Commercial
Environmental Impacts:
The property does not lie within a floodway and floodplain area. The developer will need an approved drainage plan prior to issuance of a Site Development permit, if a permit is required.
City Services:
Property is served by all city services.
Traffic Impact:
The proposed project is not expected to have a negative impact on the transportation network.
Note:
The Forrest Road Widening Project from Woodruff Farm Road to Schatulga Road:
This project will widen the road from two (2) lanes to three (3) lanes and it is now under design. Two bridges are scheduled to be replaced on Forrest Road, one over Bull Creek and the other over Cooper Creek. Both bridges will have sidewalks and railing. The project is scheduled for Right-of-Way acquisition in the near future and is estimated to start construction in 2014.
Surrounding Zoning:
North
– NC (Neighborhood Commercial)
South
– NC (Neighborhood Commercial)/
GC (General Commercial)
East
– NC (Neighborhood Commercial) /
SFR2 (Single-family Residential 2)
West
–
NC (Neighborhood Commercial) / RO (Residential Office) / RMF2 (Residential Multifamily 2)
Reasonableness of Request
The request is compatible with existing land uses.
School Impact
N/A.
Buffer Requirements
None.
Attitude of Property Owners:
Twenty Five (25)
property owners within 300 feet of the subject properties were notified of the rezoning request. The Planning Department has not received any comments regarding this application.
Additional Information:
The applicant is proposing to build a 13,225 Sq. Ft. Pharmacy for CVS with 63 parking spaces (including 4 handicap accessible).
Attachments:
Aerial Land Use Map
Planning Area E Future Land-Use Map
Traffic Analysis
Site Plan