[III. New Business: a. The City of Decatur Community and Economic Development Department has requested a conditional use permit for a proposed multi-family dwelling use in an IInstitutional zoning district for the property located at 700-722 South Columbia Drive.]

AND THIS IS AN APPLICATION WHERE THE CITY OF DECATUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A PROPOSED MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING USE IN AN I INSTITUTIONAL ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 700 TO 722 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK TO THE APPLICATION? SO MYSELF, ANGELA THREADGILL IS SERVING AS THE APPLICANT TO THIS APPLICATION.

THE CITY OF DECATUR IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 700-722 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

AND SO I AM REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE CITY OF DECATUR IN PRESENTING THIS APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND IS AS WELL, WE ARE REQUESTING A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.

[00:05:02]

SO I'M GOING TO AT THIS TIME GO THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT APPLICATION.

IT'S ABOUT 46 PAGES LONG.

I WILL NOT GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DETAIL, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME GENERAL SITE AND PROJECT INFORMATION, THIS DEVELOPMENT SITE IS APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LEGACY PARK.

IT'S AT THE CORNER OF KATIE KERR DRIVE AND SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

AND OF COURSE IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL LEGACY PARK, WHICH IS A 77 ACRE PARCEL.

BUT THE LAND ON WHICH THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY, WHICH IS WHAT THE PROJECT IS CALLED, IS KIND OF SEPARATED OFF THE LARGER LEGACY PARK CONTINUES TO BE OWNED BY THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY, AND THEN THIS PARCEL HAS BEEN SUBDIVIDED OFF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT.

AND WE'LL HAVE AN ADDRESS AT 700 TO 722 SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE AS SOON AS WE GET THE VERIFICATION FROM THE US POSTAL SERVICE.

AND THEN AS PART OF A KIND OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND WE HAVE A PARTNER WITH THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY WHO WILL BE HAVING A LONG TERM LEASE.

I THINK IT'S A 99 YEAR LEASE AND THEY WILL BE THE DEVELOPER PARTNER FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON THIS ABOUT SIX ACRE PARCEL.

IT IS A TWO PHASE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN 132 UNITS.

IT'S A RANGE OF ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOM SIZES AMONG A MIX OF HOUSING TYPES THAT INCLUDE DUPLEXES AND GARDEN STYLE APARTMENTS.

SO THE ZONING USE AND LAND USE CLASSIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY IS I OR INSTITUTIONAL AND PROPERTIES THAT ARE ZONED INSTITUTIONAL ARE REGULATED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

AND IF WE THINK BACK TO THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN AND THEN THE HOUSING ADDENDUM, THAT HOUSING ADDENDUM BECAME THE COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THIS SITE.

AND SO, OF COURSE, THAT WENT THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COMMISSION.

AND ULTIMATELY THAT WAS WHAT WAS USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANS FOR THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW TODAY IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR LAND USE TABLE, MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL USES AS WELL AS DUPLEXES ARE TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USES REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEFORE YOU ALL FOR A RECOMMENDATION AND THEN PENDING YOUR RECOMMENDATION, IT WILL CONTINUE ON TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS EARLY AS NEXT MONDAY AT THEIR NEXT MEETING FOR FINAL ACTION AFTER THEIR PUBLIC HEARING.

SO, SO MOVING ON, THERE ARE A FEW, NOT A FEW, TWO SECTIONS IN THE UDO THAT PROVIDE REVIEW STANDARDS.

SO WHAT YOU ALL WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS APPLICATION AND, AND THEN OF COURSE AS THE APPLICANT, I HAVE PROVIDED A STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR WHY THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SHOULD BE GRANTED OR APPROVED.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING WITH SOME CONDITIONS.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT ARTICLE SIX, THERE ARE SPECIFIC USE STANDARDS.

AND LET'S SEE HERE.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE SUITABILITY OF THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL USE IN VIEW OF THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADJACENT AND NEARBY PROPERTIES.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT PROPERTIES TO THE WEST, THERE IS THE 50 ACRE COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND THEN APPROXIMATELY THE TWO ACRE COLUMBIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE ZONED INSTITUTIONAL.

THE SEMINARY IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS A HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION, ALSO PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL USES AND DORMITORIES FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS.

SO THEY DO HAVE SOME MULTIFAMILY GARDEN STYLE APARTMENTS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

AND THEN PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH ARE PART OF THE FOUR ACRE HARGROVE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT THAT WENT THROUGH A REZONING PROCESS, IF YOU REMEMBER, A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND THAT PROPERTY IS ZONED RM 22 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND IT CONTAINS 62 THREE STORY DETACHED AND ATTACHED TOWNHOMES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE REMAINING LAND AROUND THIS DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH.

[00:10:03]

DID I SAY THE WEST SHOULD BE EAST.

NORTH AND EAST IS PART OF LEGACY PARK.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, SAY, THE DENSITY OF THE HARGROVE DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS RM 22, WHICH ALLOWS A DENSITY OF 22 UNITS PER ACRE, THE PROPOSED DENSITY OF VILLAGE AT LEGACY IS ALSO 22 UNITS PER ACRE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPARABLE TO WHAT IS OCCURRING WITHIN THE AREA.

THE SECOND IS REVIEW STANDARD IS THE IMPACT THAT THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL USE WILL HAVE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY, TRAFFIC ON PUBLIC STREETS, TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, UTILITIES AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES.

I'LL POINT OUT THAT THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY WILL BE SERVED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, THERE'S A MARTA BUS STOP LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE SITE, BUT ALSO CLOSE BY PROBABLY LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE SITE IS THE AVONDALE MARTA TRANSIT STATION, AND IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY THE EAST DECATUR GREENWAY.

AND THEN IF WE LOOK IF RESIDENTS DO HAVE PERSONAL VEHICLES, THERE IS SUFFICIENT PARKING, AT LEAST ONE PARKING SPACE PER UNIT.

AND IT HAS THAT PARKING LOT HAS INDIRECT ACCESS TO KATIE KERR DRIVE AND SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE VIA THE INTERNAL LEGACY PARK DRIVEWAYS.

AND SO WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN IS THE REALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR DRIVE WITH KIRK ROAD SO THAT WE WILL HAVE A FOUR WAY FULLY SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION FOR IMPROVED SAFETY FOR DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY TO BETTER MANAGE VEHICULAR MOVEMENTS THROUGH THERE, GIVEN THE SIGHTLINES AND WHATNOT WITH THE HILL.

THE THIRD REVIEW STANDARD IS THE IMPACT THAT THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL USE WILL HAVE ON ESTABLISHED PROPERTY VALUES AND ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY, COMFORT AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

THIS HASN'T BEEN COMING UP TOO OFTEN ABOUT THE DECREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH JUST ON OUR OWN FOR VARIOUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES, AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT STUDIES SHOW THAT THERE IS REALLY NO EFFECT ON HOME VALUES.

AND I KIND OF CITE THIS ONE ARTICLE THAT WAS POSTED ON TRULIA, AND THOSE RESULTS HAVE BEEN REPLICATED IN OTHER STUDIES AS WELL.

SO WE DO NOT SEE ANY MERIT THAT THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY VALUES AS A RESULT OF THIS HOUSING PROJECT GOING IN BY THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

AND THEN THE FOURTH REVIEW STANDARD REALLY RELIES, INTERESTINGLY, ON SOME USE STANDARDS RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN MULTIPLE DWELLING.

I GUESS IT'S JUST A CARRYOVER FOR US TO CONSIDER.

SO UNDER THIS IS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

THE MINIMUM LOT AREA IS ONE ACRE.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS SITE IS SIX ACRES.

SO IT EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM ONE ACRE LOT AREA.

THE NEXT IS THE MINIMUM LOT AREA PER FAMILY.

AND SO I GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE CALCULATIONS BEHIND THAT.

BUT THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT 1000 SQUARE FEET FOR BUILDINGS OF THREE OR LESS STORY'S, WHICH IS THE CASE HERE SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT BUILDINGS THAT ARE TWO AND THREE STORIES.

I DID SOME MATH HERE.

SO WE HAVE 132 FAMILIES OR UNITS MULTIPLIED BY 1000 SQUARE FEET.

AND SO THAT REQUIRES A MINIMUM LOT AREA OF 132,000 SQUARE FEET IN TOTAL.

AND WHAT IS BEING PROVIDED IS 261,360 SQUARE FEET.

SO THIS SITE IS DEFINITELY EXCEEDING THE MINIMUM LOT AREA FOR THE FAMILIES.

THERE'S ALSO THE SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR APPROVAL.

SO THIS IS DEALING WITH OPEN SPACE AND PARKING INGRESS AND EGRESS AND THEN SITE UTILITIES OPEN SPACE.

THERE'S A MINIMUM OF 5% OUTDOOR AMENITY SPACE FOR RESIDENTS AND OTHER TENANTS.

[00:15:02]

JUST ON THIS SITE, NOT COUNTING THE REST OF LEGACY PARK, THEY ARE PROVIDING 7.5% OPEN SPACE AND THAT ACTUALLY EXCLUDES THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT IS FOR THE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE TREE SAVE AREAS THAT ARE AT THE FRONT ALONG SOUTH COLUMBIA.

AS FAR AS PARKING, THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT PARKED VEHICLES MUST BE SCREENED FROM THE VIEW OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

AND SO LOOKING AT THE LAYOUT OF THE PLAN, ALL PARKING IS DESIGNED TO BE TO THE REAR OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, NOT WITHIN THE FRONT YARD BETWEEN THE STREET AND BUILDING FRONTAGE.

THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY IN THIS CASE ARE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE AND KATIE KERR DRIVE.

SO EVERYTHING'S TUCKED BEHIND THE BUILDINGS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WITH THE TREE SAVE AREA, NEW TREES AND LANDSCAPING, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL SCREENING FROM THE VIEW.

INGRESS AND EGRESS THIS WAS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND JUST PROVIDING SAFE AND CONVENIENT ACCESS.

DON'T WANT TO CREATE MORE CONFLICT BETWEEN CARS AND PEDESTRIANS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT EXTENDING AN INTERNAL DRIVE ALL THE WAY OVER TO KATIE KERR DRIVE SO THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OUTLETS.

SO THE PARKING IS ACCESSED FROM AN INTERNAL DRIVE AND THEN THE INGRESS AND EGRESS IS THEN EITHER OUT TO SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE OR OUT TO KATIE KERR.

EVERYTHING THAT IS ALL VEHICULAR MOVEMENT IS OFF OF SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

AND SO THIS GIVES ANOTHER OUTLET, IF YOU WILL, IN INGRESS AND EGRESS TO THE SITE, TAKING SOME OF THE PRESSURE OR VEHICLE COUNTS OFF OF SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THAT I HAVE TO MENTION THAT THERE IS A NEW MULTI-USE PATH THAT IS PROPOSED TO EXTEND ALONG SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE.

THIS IS PART OF OUR LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN, BUT THAT IS MEANT TO CONNECT THE PATH THAT IS PRESENTLY AT TALLEY STREET, AND IT'S KIND OF CONTINUING SOUTHBOUND AND IT WOULD CONNECT TO THE EAST DECATUR GREENWAY.

AS FAR AS SITE UTILITIES, ALL SITE UTILITIES THAT ARE PROPOSED AS PART OF THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY WILL BE UNDERGROUND.

THERE ARE SOME PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE ADJACENT PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

WE WILL SEEK TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT THOSE UNDERGROUND.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED WITH OUR PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ARTICLE 11, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL STANDARDS THERE.

THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DUPLICATIVE.

SO I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST MENTION A COUPLE THAT ARE NOT DUPLICATIVE.

THE SECOND ONE, IT TALKS ABOUT WHETHER THE PROPOSED USE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ZONING DISTRICT IN WHICH THE USE IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED.

AND THE KEY THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL ZONING DISTRICT REQUIRES AN APPROVED, COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN.

AND THE PLAN THAT IS BEFORE US TONIGHT, AS PROPOSED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, IS VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH THAT COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT.

IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS ADOPTED.

SO THE [INAUDIBLE]. WHETHER THE PROPOSED USE RESULTS IN A USE WHICH WILL OR COULD CAUSE AN EXCESSIVE OR BURDENSOME USE OF EXISTING STREETS, TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, UTILITIES, OR OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES.

WHILE I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT IN THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT DOES COME UP FREQUENTLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANY MULTIFAMILY PROJECT.

AND SO BASED ON OUR RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR, SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR HAVE CONDUCTED ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY, THEIR STUDIES SHOW THAT TRADITIONAL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAVE 2 TO 3 TIMES THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THAN THOSE RESIDING IN APARTMENTS.

THEY HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT CSD ESTIMATES THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN LARGE NEW CONSTRUCTION APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE AT 0.5 STUDENTS PER THE NUMBER OF

[00:20:06]

TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS FOR THE VILLAGE AT LEGACY AND RUN THE CALCULATIONS, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 36 STUDENTS THAT WOULD BASED ON THIS CALCULATION THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THIS PROJECT.

AND WHAT CSD MENTIONS IS THAT THAT MIGHT KIND OF EBB AND FLOW OVER THE YEARS, BUT THAT'S ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS.

AND THAT LEVEL OF CHANGE, WHICH IS KIND OF MINIMAL, THE SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO ABSORB THAT.

IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH STUDIES THAT THE CITY DID WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE NEW MULTIFAMILY DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM THAT SHOWED THAT THAT MULTIFAMILY WOULD GENERATE FEWER STUDENTS PER HOUSEHOLD THAN STANDALONE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

AND I ACTUALLY CITE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE APPLICATION.

SO THAT DEVELOPMENT IS A LITTLE OVER 300 UNITS AND CSD INITIALLY PROJECTED 129 STUDENTS COMING OUT OF THAT PROJECT AND THE CURRENT NUMBER IS 29 STUDENTS.

WELL, AS OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER FOR THIS YEAR.

SO JUST PERSPECTIVE AND A QUICK QUESTION, THOUGH.

THE CITY SCHOOLS OF DECATUR WILL CONTINUE TO USE THAT 0.5 STUDENTS, NUMBER OF PER 2 TO 3 BEDROOMS IN THEIR CALCULATION, EVEN THOUGH AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY MAY DO A NEW STUDY.

BUT BASED ON WHAT THEY DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THAT WAS THEIR FINDINGS.

BECAUSE MY THINKING IS STILL USING THAT NUMBER WOULD ABSORB BECAUSE YOU'RE OFFERING SOMETHING AT A LOWER PRICE SO YOU'RE CHANGING PREFERENCES.

BUT THAT WOULD ABSORB IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL STUDENTS COMING OUT OF A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS THAT.

I THINK THE LAST ONE THAT IS NOT SO DUPLICATIVE TO THE PREVIOUS REVIEW STANDARDS IS NUMBER SIX, WHERE THERE ARE OTHER EXISTING OR CHANGING CONDITIONS, WHICH BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALITY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY, GIVE SUPPORTING GROUNDS FOR EITHER APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED USE.

AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING UP THE CITY'S ADOPTED STRATEGIC PLAN, THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WE CALL DECATUR 2030, AS WELL AS THE WORK OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE IN 2019 AND 2020 WITH THEIR REPORT THAT CAME OUT, IT'S THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CITY'S ADOPTED STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY FOUR THAT ARE REALLY RELEVANT TO THIS PROJECT.

THE FIRST MOST OBVIOUS ONE IS IMPLEMENT THE HOUSING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN, WHICH THIS CERTAINLY HAS THE GOAL OF DOING.

ANOTHER ONE IS ENCOURAGING A VARIETY OF UNIT SIZES, ENCOURAGE SOME THREE PLUS BEDROOM UNITS TO ACCOMMODATE LARGER HOUSEHOLDS. OVER TIME WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF STUDIOS AND ONE BEDROOMS BEING BUILT AS PART OF MULTIFAMILY, AND WE'RE NOT BUILDING FOR FAMILIES.

SO THIS IS THIS PROJECT IS DEFINITELY PROVIDING HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND THE OTHER IS ENSURING THAT EACH NEIGHBORHOOD PROVIDES ITS FAIR SHARE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT ALL NEIGHBORHOODS MUST PARTICIPATE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES IN THIS PLAN. SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DECATUR, THIS AREA IS CLOSER TO WINNONA PARK, AND WINNONA PARK HAS THE LEAST NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS OR NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE UNITS.

AND SO THIS IS PLACING UNITS WHERE IT IS NEEDED AND IT'S KIND OF THE FAIR SHARE IF WE'RE LOOKING TO LOCATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND THEN LASTLY, THIS IS JUST A STRATEGY OF THE CITY, BUT DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PIPELINES OF AVAILABLE LAND, INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY, INCLUDING LEGACY PARK.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS AVAILABLE LAND THAT WE HAVE TO DEVELOP.

[00:25:06]

SO AND THEN THE VERY LAST ONE THAT I'LL POINT OUT IN TERMS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO DEVELOP NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THIS PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AT LEAST 60 UNITS PER YEAR THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 30 TO 60% AMI AND AT LEAST 100 UNITS PER YEAR THAT ARE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 60 TO 120% AMI.

SO THIS AGAIN IS WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF BOTH OF THESE.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GOING TO HAVE A MIX, A DIFFERENT RANGE OF INCOME LEVELS AS PART OF THE PROJECT.

SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THESE OUT BECAUSE THIS PROJECT REALLY TIES TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE ULTIMATELY ADOPTED AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING ON, AS YOU REMEMBER, I HAD MENTIONED APPROVING RECOMMENDING APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS.

AND SO IN THE APPLICATION IN MY MEMO, I AM SUGGESTING THAT THERE'S A SERIES OF DESIGN COMPONENTS KIND OF BE DOCUMENTED IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.

THESE ARE VERY KEY TO THE DESIGN.

IT'S INCLUDING NOT LIMITED TO BUT BUILDING SETBACKS FROM PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY AND PROPERTY LINES, LOCATIONS AND NUMBER OF BUILDINGS.

THE BUILDING HEIGHTS AND EXTERIOR DESIGNS THAT WE SEE IN THE PLANS, THE LOCATION, THE LAYOUT, THE POINTS OF INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR VEHICULAR MOVEMENT, THE LOCATION OF TRASH ENCLOSURES, AND THE TRASH SCREENING.

THERE'S ALSO THE TREE SAVE AREA, WHICH I'LL SPEAK TO IN JUST A MOMENT.

SITE LIGHTING, SO THERE'S NOT SPILLAGE ONTO ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND THEN JUST DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES AND SUBSEQUENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

WE HAVE A HISTORIC [INAUDIBLE] COTTAGE, WHICH IS JUST NORTH, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO PROTECT THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THESE ALL OF THIS IS THE INTENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE JUST WANT TO HAVE IT HERE IN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT DESIGN COMPONENTS.

THE OTHER PROPOSED CONDITIONS ARE REALLY PULLED FROM OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

TALKING ABOUT MAJOR AMENDMENTS NEED TO COME BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHAT IS DEFINED AS A MAJOR AMENDMENT, AND THEN THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER AND SUBSEQUENT PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

AND SO WE DID RECEIVE TWO WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IT IS POSTED ON THE MEETING WEB PAGE.

BOTH COMMENTS ARE HEAVILY RELATED TO THE TREE SAVE AREA AND SO THAT IS THE TREE SAVE AREA IS ILLUSTRATED ALONG THE SOUTH COLUMBIA DRIVE FRONTAGE.

AND, SO WHAT I HAVE DONE, THE DRAFT ORDINANCE IS POSTED ON THE MEETING WEB PAGE, BUT I HAVE ALSO PRINTED A COPY FOR YOU ALL GIVEN THAT WE RECEIVED THESE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

WHAT I HAVE DONE, IF YOU TURN TO THE SECOND PAGE OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, IT'S ITEM 1G.

THIS IS REALLY TRYING TO HONOR THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED ABOUT THE TREE SAVE AREA THAT THE EXISTING TREE CANOPY COVER FROM TREES THAT ARE IN FAIR OR BETTER RATED CONDITION THAT IS WITHIN THAT TREE SAVE AREA SHALL BE PROTECTED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

NO DISTURBANCE OR REMOVAL OF EXISTING PROTECTED TREES SHALL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE CITY ARBORIST IN THE FORM OF A TREE CONSERVATION PLAN OR A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT.

AND THIS AGAIN IN LARGE PART IS TAKEN FROM OUR NEW CANOPY COVER ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED LATE LAST YEAR. I BELIEVE.

SO AND THEN SO WITH WITH ME TONIGHT IS DOUG FAUST THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY.

SO IF YOU HAD MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BEST PERSON TO SPEAK TO THAT.

[00:30:02]

BUT I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY QUESTIONS, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL. WHILE HE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE LECTERN. ANGELA AS THE APPLICANT, I ASSUME THAT YOUR ADDRESS IS 509 NORTH MCDONOUGH STREET, DECATUR, GEORGIA.

IT IS. I'M HERE AT CITY HALL.

[LAUGHTER] IT FEELS LIKE I LIVE HERE SOMETIMES.

YES. LIKEWISE.

I'M DOUG FAUST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY ADDRESS 750 COMMERCE DRIVE, SUITE 400.

AND I DON'T ACTUALLY LIVE THERE.

IT FEELS LIKE IT SOMETIMES.

[LAUGHTER] JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATING A GREAT COMMUNITY HERE.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD ON THE DESIGN.

WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT THAT THROUGH PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WE BROUGHT IT TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

WE THINK OUR LAYOUT MATCHES THE MASTER PLAN IN A VERY ARTFUL WAY AND A THOUGHTFUL WAY.

WE TRY TO VERY MUCH DO THOSE THINGS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE MASTER PLAN.

WE DID RECOGNIZE THE TREE SAVE AREA.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE RECREATIONAL AREA FOR CHILDREN.

AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE THINK IS A GOOD STRATEGY ON HOW TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO DECATUR.

WE THANK THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR WORKING WITH US ON THE GROUND LEASE FOR THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE AT CURRENT PRICES OF LAND, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL? MY NAME IS MARY GOULD.

I AM RECENTLY 422 SECOND AVENUE IN THE OAKHURST NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 40 YEARS, BUT HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO CLAREMONT PLACE UP THE ROAD.

AND I'M NO LONGER CITY OF DECATUR AND I STILL OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

BUT MY HEART WILL ALWAYS BE IN DECATUR.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, MANY OF US HAVE FELT PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR.

THIS FIRST BECAME APPARENT TO ME WHEN I WAS TEACHING ESL IN CLARKSTON AND SOME OF MY STUDENTS MOVED INTO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THEY WERE DOING SO WELL.

THE CHILDREN WERE PLACED IN GIFTED.

THEY WANTED TO BUY A HOUSE AND IT JUST WASN'T POSSIBLE.

SO THEY'RE NOW IN LAWRENCEVILLE AND THAT'S WHAT FIRST GOT ME STARTED.

AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AT LEGACY PARK, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO OVER THE FINISH.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LET ME TELL YOU, AFTER 40 YEARS, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF DECATUR, NO MATTER WHERE THE POST OFFICE SENDS YOUR MAIL.

YES, MA'AM. MY NAME IS KATHERINE CARTER.

I LIVE AT 531 SOUTH CANDLER STREET, WHERE I'VE BEEN MOST OF MY LIFE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY MUCH.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT THE WORK WE'VE SEEN DOUG TAKE CARE OF IN THE PAST SEEMS ALWAYS TO BE GOOD, AND I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL? YES, MA'AM. HELLO.

MY NAME IS LAURA SMEDLEY AT 4201 GRAYSON PLACE, NOT QUITE IN DECATUR PROPER.

AND I APOLOGIZE I DON'T HAVE A STATEMENT PREPARED.

I HAVEN'T COME TO A CITY MEETING BEFORE, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN DECATUR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL? WE HAVE ANYONE ONLINE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT? OKAY. SEEING NO ONE.

IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSAL? ANYONE ONLINE? I LOVE DECATUR.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND OPEN DISCUSSION AMONGST OURSELVES.

[00:35:08]

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL OR THE ORDINANCE OR ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US? A FEW QUESTIONS JUST ON THE THINGS LIKE THE BASICALLY THE REALIGNMENT AND ALSO THE CONNECTION OVER TO SOUTH COLOMBIA. IS THAT A DONE DEAL? BECAUSE IT'S NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR ON THERE.

IT'S SORT OF IMPLIED, BUT IT DOESN'T.

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO TELL WHETHER THAT IS PART OF IT OR DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN? [INAUDIBLE] SURE.

SO THE INTERNAL DRIVE, THAT EXTENSION OF THE INTERNAL DRIVE OVER TO KATIE KERR WILL BE DONE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. THE REALIGNMENT WITH KATIE KERR WITH KIRK ROAD WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

MOST LIKELY CLOSER TO THE END OF THIS PROJECT, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT, JUST FUNDING AND PRIORITIES.

SO BUT IT IS PART OF OUR LONG RANGE PLAN.

AND AS SOON AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, IT IS WITH THE INTENT THAT THE CITY WOULD COMPLETE THAT.

DOES THE OTHER ROAD REMAIN OR DOES THAT GO AWAY AND THE GREEN SPACE BECOMES CONTIGUOUS, OR DOES IT BECOME SORT OF A GREEN TRIANGULAR PARK? IDEALLY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT ASPHALT UP AND TURN THAT INTO GREEN SPACE, ALMOST LIKE A POCKET PARK.

AND SO THOSE TOWNHOMES WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE FRONTING ONTO A WONDERFUL GREEN SPACE.

BUT THAT IS THE INTENT.

AND OF COURSE, THE EAST DECATUR GREENWAY WOULD BE RUNNING PARALLEL WITH KATIE KERR.

AND THEN SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REALIGN THE PATH THERE AND THEN TAKE IT SOUTH.

BUT WE RECEIVED SOME COMMENTS AS PART OF OUR OPEN HOUSE ABOUT THIS PROJECT, ABOUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THIS EXTRA GREEN SPACE.

AND SO NOTHING DECIDED AT THIS TIME, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IT AS OPEN SPACE NOT TO BE DEVELOPED. I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THAT WHEN LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK.

WAS THERE REALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR INCLUDED IN THAT ANALYSIS? AS PART OF THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN, YES, WE HAD TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CONSULTANT TEAM AND THE CITY.

VHB WAS THE SUB CONSULTANTS AND SO THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT USES, LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND THEN THIS IS WHAT THE SOLUTION CAME UP TO BE AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BUT BY DESIGNATING THE TREE SAVE AREA WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT DOES THAT PUT ON THAT AREA? AND I SEE THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONDITION IS NO TREE SHALL BE NO DISTURBANCE OR REMOVAL OF EXISTING PROTECTED TREE SHALL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE CITY ARBORIST IN THE FORM OF APPROVED TREE CONSERVATION [INAUDIBLE].

A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT, WHICH IS THE NORMAL COURSE OF? IT, IS. IT IS.

SO THE KEY THING IS THAT THE LEGACY PARK MASTER PLAN HIGHLIGHTED THESE TREES AS SOME OF THE OLDER GROWTH WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR AND THAT THIS AREA SHOULD BE SAVED MORE SO THAN WITH INTERNALLY WITHIN WHERE THIS SITE DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR.

AND SO AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WORKED WITH THEIR LAND PLANNERS AND ARCHITECTS, THEY KEPT THAT IN MIND TO PULL THE BUILDINGS OUT OF THAT TREE SAVE AREA.

BUT THEN TO HAVE THIS EXTRA WRITTEN KIND OF CONDITION WITHIN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS JUST SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO DISTURB THIS AREA, YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK WITH OUR CITY ARBORIST TO COME UP WITH A TREE PLAN AND A REMOVAL PERMIT IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

YEAH. AND THAT ANGELA AND I WERE TALKING, THAT WAS JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, BASED ON THE CONCERNS AND THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED, THAT THAT

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REQUIREMENT WOULD APPLY BECAUSE TECHNICALLY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ARE IMMUNE FROM THE ENFORCEMENT OF ZONING. AND SO THE CITY OF DECATUR HISTORICALLY HAS VOLUNTARILY DONE THAT.

BUT BY PUTTING IT IN THE SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THAT ARE THEN APPROVED AND AGREED TO BY THE CITY, IT'S CLEAR THAT THOSE CODE PROVISIONS ARE BINDING ON THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTED THAT AS A SPECIAL CONDITION ON THIS ACTION.

OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL.

AND I HAD A QUESTION ON THAT TOO.

AND IT WAS MORE JUST WORDING FOR THE 1G AND THIS IS TRULY JUST A QUESTION.

WOULD IT BE BETTER? AND IT MAY NOT JUST TO SAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR TREE ORDINANCE, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, WHATEVER THE ORDINANCE IS, AND JUST LIST THAT.

OR IS IT? WHEN I WAS READING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I THINK THEY REALLY WANTED IT TO BE MORE EXPLICIT ABOUT THE TREE SAVE AREA JUST BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CANOPY ORDINANCE THAT WAS RECENTLY ADOPTED IN THE INSTITUTIONAL ZONING DISTRICT, 45% OF THE CANOPY IS REQUIRED TO BE PROTECTED. AND WE MAY BE REQUIRING IT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND SO THAT'S [INAUDIBLE].

AND ALSO THE CANOPY ORDINANCE IF YOU'RE DOING ANYTHING TO DISTURB THOSE.

I THINK IT HAS TREE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT ADD SOME FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THAT REQUIREMENT IS MET, WHERE THIS EXPLICITLY SAYS THESE TREES THAT ARE IN THIS AREA WILL BE PROTECTED.

TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

YEAH. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL OR THE ORDINANCE? I HAD ONE QUESTION.

I'M JUST GOING BACK TO THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS WHERE IT DID ASSUME THE REALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR.

AND I KNOW THAT'S LONG RANGE FUNDING.

I DO THINK THAT WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY TO REALIGN.

WOULD IT BE VALUABLE TO PUT INTO THE CONDITIONS? IT'S J MAYBE 1J ANY CHANGES TO THE ASSUMPTIONS GOING INTO WHATEVER THE TRAFFIC STUDY WAS? IF FUNDING DOESN'T EMERGE FOR THAT REALIGNMENT.

AND HAPPY TO PUT THAT IN, IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WE CAN PUT THAT FORWARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

DOES MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE PROJECT DEPEND UPON THE ENTIRE SITE PLAN BEING BUILT AS SHOWN, INCLUDING THE KATIE KERR REALIGNMENT? NOT THE KATIE ALIGNMENT.

NO. EVERYTHING ELSE, YES.

YES. COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

REALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR IS A DESIRABLE THING.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT. WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THAT IN THE WAY THE LAND IS LAID OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO DEMOLISH THE TWO HOUSES THAT ARE THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT GREEN COVER BACK OVER THOSE AREAS.

THAT AREA WILL THEN SIT.

THE KATIE KERR REALIGNMENT IS NOT A HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT.

IT'S NOT PART OF OUR PLANS.

IT'S NOT PART OF WHAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO DO.

IF YOU PUT CONDITIONS HERE, THAT'S FINE.

AS LONG AS IT'S UNDERSTOOD THOSE CONDITIONS GO TO THE CITY, NOT TO THE DEVELOPER, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF CITY STREETS OR COUNTY STREETS.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS. I'VE GOT ONE QUESTION.

YOU PROBABLY [INAUDIBLE] TO ANSWER THAT.

BUT WHAT SORT OF DROVE THE MIXTURE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPES.

AND HOW DID YOU GUYS SORT OF DECIDE TO DO THAT? I IMAGINE THEY'RE NOT AT VASTLY DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS OR DIFFERENT DENSITIES KIND OF SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE SORT OF LARGER GROUPING OF SORT OF TRADITIONAL GARDEN TYPE

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BUILDINGS AROUND THE PERIMETER.

I GUESS ONE OBSERVATION IS TAKE KATIE KERR FOR A LONG TIME BASICALLY BEEN AN ARTERY ROAD WITH ENTRANCES TO SUBDIVISIONS AND THEN THE NEW TOWNHOMES ACROSS THE STREET ACTUALLY STARTED TO KIND OF ENGAGE THAT.

THIS SEEMS TO BE GENERALLY ALL COMPLETELY ORGANIZED AROUND THE INTERIOR AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BUILDINGS TO WHETHER IT'S THE REALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR OR THE OLD ALIGNMENT OF KATIE KERR SEEMS TO BE KIND OF HAPPENSTANCE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S ORGANIZED AROUND THE CENTER.

IS THAT EVER THE ENGAGEMENT OF THAT ROAD WAS THAT EVER SORT OF TALKED ABOUT AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY A JOINT ANSWER.

SO IF YOU'LL ADD WHEN I FINISH.

A MASTER PLAN FOR THE SITE SHOWED THIS KIND OF AN ALIGNMENT, IT DID NOT ASK FOR THE BUILDINGS TO BE FRONTING OUT ON THE STREET.

AND SO THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE BETTER WAY TO APPROACH IT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE MASTER PLAN APPROACHED IN SOME WAYS WANTED TO SHIELD PORTIONS OF THE SITE SO THAT IT WAS LESS OBVIOUS WHAT WAS THERE TO RESPECT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF WHAT WAS THERE.

AND I'LL ADD THAT THE INTENT OF THE MASTER PLAN WAS TO HAVE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE THAT FRONTAGE.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DESIGNS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PREPARED, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A FRONT FAÇADE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE ALL FACADES ARE KIND OF THE FRONT.

SO IT'S FRONTING ONTO KATIE KERR, IT'S FRONTING ONTO TO JUST SOUTH COLUMBIA.

SO WHILE IT'S ORGANIZED AROUND, I MEAN, IT'S JUST KIND OF THAT VILLAGE CONCEPT WHERE YOU'RE CREATING A MIX OF BUILDING TYPES AND SCALES AND MASSING, BUT THEN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT WAS AROUND, THAT'S WHY THE, THE LARGER BUILDINGS ARE ORIENTED TOWARDS THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HARGROVE AND COLUMBIA.

COLUMBIA SEMINARY AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THOSE ARE FAIRLY SIZABLE DEVELOPMENTS AND BUILDINGS.

SO IT'S JUST, AGAIN, TRYING TO HUG THAT CORNER AND FOLLOW SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA.

THOSE ARE ALSO TOPOGRAPHICALLY THAT AREA IS LOWER.

AND SO AS A RESULT, EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDINGS ARE HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE NEARBY PROPERTIES, IT DOES CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO LOOK IN SCALE.

AND WE WERE FORTUNATE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE DESIGN FROM THE FOUR STORIES AUTHORIZED BY THE MASTER PLAN DOWN TO THREE STORIES, BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT SOFTER LOOK. GOTCHA. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT OUT, BUT I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S PRESENTED.

I DON'T THINK THE CONDITIONS, THE CONFUSION ABOUT THAT SEEMS LIKE THE INTENT IS IN THERE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN DEPENDING ON FUNDING.

BUT I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT AS IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.

YOU HAVE A SECOND? A SECOND.

IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THIS APPLICATION WITH THE CONDITIONS AS SHOWN IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE AND SUMMARIZED BY ANGELA IN HER PRESENTATION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. ALL EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF RECOMMENDING APPROVAL SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THAT TAKES US TO OTHER BUSINESS AND I'LL CALL THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

[IV. Other Business a. Presentation by the City of Decatur Community and Economic Development Department on the proposed text amendments to Article 2, Article 3, Article 6, Article 7 and Article 12 of the Unified Development Ordinance related to missing middle housing.]

AND ANGELA, I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THIS ONE AND GO AHEAD WITH THIS CASE FIRST, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION BY THE CITY OF DECATUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE TWO.

ARTICLE THREE, ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE RELATED TO MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.

AND I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE KRISTIN ALLIN, WHO IS A PLANNER FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR.

SHE WAS HIRED TO HELP THE CITY WITH ALL OF ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES.

HER POSITION WAS CREATED AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE TO HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER THAT'S DEVOTED

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TO THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES.

SO SHE HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING POLICY.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION.

SO WELCOME. EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU.

WELCOME AND MY NAME IS KRISTIN, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.