[I. Call to Order.]
[00:00:06]
THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECATUR PLANNING COMMISSION FOR APRIL THE 11TH, 2023.
MY NAME IS HAROLD BUCKLEY AND I WILL BE CHAIRING THE COMMISSION THIS EVENING.
THIS IS A SEVEN MEMBER COMMISSION OF DECATUR RESIDENTS APPOINTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
IT ALSO REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDS CHANGES TO THE CITY'S ZONING REGULATIONS AND FUTURE LAND USE PLANS.
WE WILL HEAR APPLICATIONS TONIGHT IN THE ORDER THEY ARE LISTED ON THE PRINTED AGENDA.
APPLICANTS ARE GIVEN TIME TO PRESENT THEIR CASE WHEN THEIR APPLICATION IS CALLED.
PLEASE BE SURE TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR REMARKS.
SINCE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE APPLICANT TO CONVINCE THE COMMISSION TO VOTE IN THEIR FAVOR.
APPLICANTS ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO PRESENT REBUTTAL TO ANY OPPOSITION AGAINST THEM.
OPPOSING PARTIES ARE NOT GRANTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL.
WE DO NOT NORMALLY LIMIT THE TIME FOR MULTIPLE PARTIES TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO AN APPLICATION, BUT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I THINK WILL WANT TO SPEAK THIS EVENING PURSUANT TO OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, I AM GOING TO LIMIT THE TIME FOR EACH PERSON.
BUT PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ANY APPLAUSE OR DIALOG DURING OR AFTER PRESENTATIONS.
PLEASE SHOW THE SAME RESPECT TO ANYONE WHO IS SPEAKING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE YOURSELF.
PLEASE SHOW THE SAME RESPECT TO ANYONE WHO IS SPEAKING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE YOURSELF.
I WISH THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT THE MOMENT ANYONE STARTS LEVELING ACCUSATIONS OR CALLING PEOPLE NAMES OR ENGAGING IN ANY BEHAVIOR LIKE THAT, I AM GOING TO SHUT YOU DOWN AND INVITE YOU TO GO REDISCOVER YOUR SEAT.
WE ARE NOT DOING THAT TONIGHT.
SO JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RENDERS FINAL DECISIONS ON SUBDIVISION APPLICATIONS, BUT IT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY COMMISSION, WHICH HAS FINAL DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY ON THOSE CASES.
[II.a. Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2023 scheduled meeting]
AS EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CONCERNS, REVISIONS ABOUT THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. THEY DO.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT, THEN LET US LET US MOVE ON TO THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR. SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO ABSTENTIONS.
THE MINUTES ARE HEREBY ADOPTED.
WE HAVE TWO RELATED CASES ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
ANGELA, DO YOU CAN WE COMBINE THESE INTO A SINGLE DISCUSSION SINCE THEY ARE OKAY?
[III.a. Smarties Academy c/o Bogumila Kabat, owner, has requested an amendment to a previously approved conditional use permit to increase the enrollment of a daycare at 465 Clairemont Avenue.]
[III.b. Smarties Academy c/o Bogumila Kabat, owner, has requested an amendment to a previously approved comprehensive site development plan to expand operations of a daycare at 465 Clairemont Avenue.]
SO I WILL CALL THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.CARE OF BOGUMILA CABAT OWNER WHO HAS REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT OF A DAYCARE AT 465 CLAREMONT AVENUE.
[00:05:01]
THE SAME ADDRESS.GO AHEAD AND AND MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BOGUMILA KABAT.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND THE OWNER OF SMARTIES ACADEMY IN DECATUR.
I'M HERE TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE REQUEST TO DEFER FOR ONE MORE CYCLE TO TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATION AND PLAN UPDATES BASED ON OUR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNICATION WITH CITY OF STAFF.
WE WILL BE WE WILL BE UPDATING THE COMPREHENSIVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ADDRESSING SITE SPECIFICS AND REVISE THAT PLAN ACCORDINGLY BASED ON THOSE CONCERNS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO DEFER FOR ONE MORE CYCLE.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INVITING ALL OUR NEIGHBORS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR US, PLEASE.
I'M SORRY FOR COMING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE.
I JUST DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION, SO I'D BE HAPPY TO PASS MY CONTACTS EMAIL ADDRESS.
SO THIS WAY WE CAN SHARE THE CONCERNS OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND SHARE WITH THEM WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE.
BUT BASED ON OUR FEEDBACK, WE WILL.
WE ARE WORKING ON SITE PLANS UPDATES.
OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION? ALL RIGHT. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED A DEFERRAL, APPARENTLY THAT MESSAGE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO'VE COME HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING TODAY.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD BE VERY EQUITABLE NOT TO ALLOW THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK, IS THERE ANY I MEAN, LET ME ASK AGAIN, IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT? OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? OKAY. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO FOLKS WHO WANT TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
WE REMEMBER BEFORE YOU START YOUR REMARKS, AFTER YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS SO THAT WE CAN RECORD THAT AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES PER PERSON TO PROVIDE YOUR REMARKS.
THANK YOU. YOU HAD HER WAITING ON YOU.
OH, SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FIND MY TIMER.
MY TIMER? TIMER? YES, PLEASE. OKAY, LET'S GET THE TIMER UP AND RUNNING, AND THEN WE WILL BE READY.
OH, LOOK AT THAT. HE'S GOT A BIG OL SCREEN.
I'M JOHNNY ON THE SPOT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, AS YOU CAN SEE.
ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST PERSON WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
OKAY. AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, IF YOU WOULD LINE UP ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM SO THAT WE CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, MORE EFFICIENTLY HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS CONNIE DAVIS MOORE AND I LIVE AT 219 LUCERNE STREET.
I ATTENDED CLAREMONT SCHOOL AND I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE IN RESPECTFUL BUT FIRM OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF SMARTIES CHILD CARE CENTER.
IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND MY COMMITMENT TO DECATUR AS WELL AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THAT COMMUNITY, I WOULD PLEASE LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY FAMILY HAS OPERATED A LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTER IN THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR 61 YEARS NOW.
WE JUST CELEBRATED 61 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION SUBURBAN NURSERY SCHOOL ON APRIL 2ND.
BUT NUMBER ONE IS THE ISSUE OF AVAILABILITY.
THAT IS NOT THE SITUATION IN DECATUR.
HERE WE LIVE AND IF YOU WILL, PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT BRIGHT FROM THE START.
THAT'S THE PRODUCT NAME OF GEORGIA'S DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING, DECAL.GA.GOV.
THAT WILL LIST FOR YOU ALL THE LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
AND YOU CAN DO A LOCATION SEARCH.
AND FROM MY LOCATION AT MY HOME I FOUND THAT WITHIN FIVE MILES THERE ARE WELL MORE THAN 20 CENTERS IN GOOD STANDING WITHIN MY LOCATION. SO FOR OUR PURPOSES TONIGHT, I JUST LOOKED AT SOME CITY OF DECATUR LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS.
[00:10:07]
HERE'S THE CAPACITY AND HERE'S THEIR EXISTING OCCUPANCY.THAT'S 35FT² PER CHILD, 64% OCCUPANCY.
MY SCHOOL, 113, WE'RE AT 27% OCCUPANCY.
THERE'S PLENTY OF GROWTH AVAILABLE FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS.
NUMBER TWO, WHY AREN'T THEY MORE FULL? BECAUSE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS JUST PUT OUT THAT WHOLE INDUSTRY HAS SHRUNK BY NEARLY 10%.
100,000 WORKERS HAVE LEFT THIS.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO SUPPORT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE.
IT'S NOT VIABLE TO HAVE A LARGE LOCATION WITH SOME 300 CHILDREN.
WE HAVE ALREADY AVAILABLE CHILD CARE CENTER AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS GEORGE LAWS 510 CLAREMONT AVENUE.
LONG TIME RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
BUT LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT CLAREMONT AVENUE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GATEWAYS INTO THE CITY.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS MADE THE FIRST HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF DECATUR LINES, CLAREMONT AVENUE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT EXIST ON AND AROUND CLAREMONT AVENUE.
IT IS NOT A COMMERCIAL AVENUE.
AND FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS WE HAD A CHURCH.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT.
AND NOW WE HAVE A COMMERCIAL INSTITUTION.
FINE. THERE IS ALREADY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THAT STREET.
CHILDREN HAVE TO GET TO THAT SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
THERE'S ALSO SOME TALK IN HER PROPOSAL FOR A COFFEE SHOP OR SOME KIND OF SOCIAL GATHERING AREA, WHICH WOULD MEAN INCREASED TRAFFIC ON TOP OF THE STUDENT TRAFFIC.
SO IT BECOMES A COMMERCIAL INSTITUTION RIGHT IN THE HEART OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I REALLY, REALLY THINK THAT WITH THE DENSITY AND THE GROWTH OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN DECATUR, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH, A LOT OF INCREASED DENSITY, THERE'S MORE AND MORE TRAFFIC THAT WAS JUST APPROVED TO HAVE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH MANY OF US LONGTIME RESIDENTS, WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO THIS COMMUNITY, IT WAS FULL OF MULTI HOUSING.
WE FOUGHT TO MAKE IT SINGLE FAMILY AND NOW WE WANT TO SEE MORE INCREASE IN DENSITY.
I DON'T THINK WE DO. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR FAMILIES.
HELLO, I'M JULIA BROWN, LIVE AT 128 ERIE AVENUE.
I ALSO AM A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF DECATUR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY A HARD DECISION BECAUSE YOU HAVE COMPETING INTERESTS.
QUALITY DAYCARE, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT QUALITY DAYCARE VERSUS QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT BOGNA IS PROPOSING.
WHAT SHE PLANS TO BUILD IS BIGGER THAN THE EXISTING CHURCH.
WHAT SHE PLANS TO BUILD WILL OVERWHELM THE CHURCH, AND I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HER CHANGES.
BUT I DO THINK IT WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE SUCH A HUGE DEVELOPMENT ON THAT CHURCH PROPERTY.
AND THERE'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THAT PROPERTY TO SEPARATE TO HAVE A SETBACK FROM THE THE BUILDING AND THE HOMES AND STILL HAVE ROOM TO DO WHAT SHE IS PROPOSING TO DO.
NUMBER TWO, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN SHE STARTS CONSTRUCTION.
[00:15:03]
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD CONTINUE TO RUN THE SCHOOL AND CONSTRUCT A BUILDING THAT IS BIGGER THAN THE EXISTING CHURCH ITSELF, PARTICULARLY GIVING THE LIMITED SPACE ON THAT LOT WHERE SHE CAN STAGE AND PUT PRODUCTS AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A TON OF GRADING.IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR ALL OF US FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF, NOT TO MENTION WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE ONCE IT'S DONE.
I AM A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND LOVE DECATUR.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE TWO SPEAKERS BEFORE ME.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO ANTICIPATE THE IMPACT THIS BUILDING WILL HAVE AND THE GROWTH OF STUDENTS WILL HAVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ERIE AVENUE, BUT IT IS A SMALL STREET.
IT WAS BUILT IN THE 20 THE 30S, AND IT'S NOT REALLY MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS KIND OF GROWTH.
KEEP IN MIND, AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER INDICATED, WE HAVE A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE END OF THE ROAD AND THEN SHE'S GOING TO ADD CARE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 300 STUDENTS.
THE TRAFFIC THAT WILL CREATE WILL BE IRREPARABLE IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE I WOULD MAINTAIN.
IT COULD ACTUALLY IMPACT THE VALUE OF THE HOMES AS WELL, TOO.
THE OTHER THING, ONE LAST COMMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
EVEN THOUGH SHE MAY MAKE CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING, THE TRUE ONE OF THE TRUE IMPACTS ARE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED. I ASK THAT THAT BE CONSIDERED AND EVALUATED IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER CHANGES SHE MAY MAKE TO THE BUILDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.
THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS GAYLE DOYLE AND I LIVE AT 449 CLAREMONT.
SO IT'S A BIT OF A TWO FOR ONE.
THIS FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING ONE THE REVIEW BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED FIVE AREAS THAT ARE NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE CITY OF DECATUR'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
THE APPLICATION FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT ON SAFETY FOR DECATUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN WALKING AND BIKING TO AND FROM LOCAL DECATUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ALONG CLAREMONT AND ERIE.
THE DEVELOPMENT INCREASES TRAFFIC FLOW AND CONGESTION THROUGHOUT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, IMPACTING NOT ONLY CLAREMONT AVENUE AND ERIE STREET, BUT RESIDENTS OF THE ENTIRE GREAT LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR A CHANGING PRIVATE CHURCH PARKING LOT INTO AN EXPANDED COMMERCIAL LOT OF 75 OR MORE SPACES.
K AND L. FIVE SMARTIES ACADEMY HAS ALREADY BEEN FINED FOR IMPROPERLY CUTTING DOWN TREES AND REMOVING MATURE TREES BEHIND J AND K, AND NOW THEY PROPOSE TO REMOVE AN ADDITIONAL 30 TREES.
THE EXPANSION OF THE PARKING LOT DIRECTLY ALTERS THE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE 12 FAMILIES RESIDING IN BUILDINGS J, K AND L BY INVADING THEIR PERSONAL SPACE AND DEPRIVING DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR PRIVACY.
THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL WILL ENTAIL PARKING LOT IMPACTS SUCH AS AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION FROM CARS, PEOPLE COMING AND GOING WITHIN THE PARKING LOT AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVENING HOURS IMPACTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
VIRGINIA PEREZ, CITY OF DECATUR RESIDENT.
I AM MARIA ALVAREZ AND I RESIDE AT 449 CLAREMONT AVENUE.
AND I JUST WANT TO I HAD A HUGE ONE, BUT KEEP IT SHORT.
AND THE ATTORNEY VERBATIM SAID, WE ARE ASKING JUST WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER OR SO, THE TREES DISAPPEARED.
SO MAYBE I CAN FORESEE THE FUTURE.
[00:20:03]
I DON'T KNOW. MY WISH.BUT ANYWAY, SO I WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE HERE.
AND WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN THAT WE NEED TO ADHERE.
SO BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF DECATUR PITCH IN WITH, AND HERE'S THE THE ONES THAT SOME OF THE CODES OR SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE FOR THE MASTER PLAN THAT THIS GOES AGAINST.
HAVE YOU READ IT? YES, SOME OF IT, I WOULD SAY SO.
ANYWAY, THE FIRST ONE IS CA ONE.
ESTABLISH GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION AND CLEAN ENERGY TARGETS.
TONS OF OTHER VEHICLES ARE GOING TO IMPACT THAT CAR.
EIGHT. EVALUATE THE CARBON IMPACT OF THE CITY DECISION.
K11 EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON TRUE SUSTAINABILITY AND WE NO LONGER HAVE TREES AND SO FORTH.
CA 22, INCREASE THE TREE CANOPY GOAL.
AND I CAN KEEP ON READING BECAUSE THIS IS STRAIGHT UP FROM THE FROM THE PLAN.
THE NEXT ONE IS CA 27, IMPLEMENT THE STORM MASTER PLAN.
THEN WE HAVE CA 28 UPDATE THE COMMUNITY FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PLAN.
ENCOURAGE USEABLE GREEN SPACE IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THEN SINCE I AM A LATINA, I ALSO I AM ALL ABOUT EQUITABLE.
OKAY. AND SO FOR FOR THE EQUITY OF THIS, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE IN DECATUR, THE AVERAGE OF HER SCHOOL IS 1800.
SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS NOTE.
AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 150 KIDS AT THE CHEAPEST RATE ON THERE.
IT WOULD INCREASE $3.3 MILLION OF REVENUE.
AND I CAN SEE WHERE THE PERSON'S GOING WITH THIS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE MONEY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT MORE KIDS IN THE SAME SPACE, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL HOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CRAMMING THESE KIDS IN THERE.
BUT OF COURSE, THERE IS LIKE THIS EXPANSION THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU AT THAT AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RICHARD HERZOG.
EXCUSE ME. AND I LIVE AT 455 CLAREMONT, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY ADJOINING THE CHURCH ON TWO SIDES.
THE CHURCH OR THE SCHOOL PROPERTY, EXCUSE ME, IS BESIDE OUR HOUSE AND BEHIND IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BOGNER IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE, AND SO I DON'T WANT.
BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH HER ABOUT THE SCHOOL.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I LIKE THE SCHOOL.
THEY'VE BEEN IT'S A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THE KIDS NEXT DOOR.
THERE'S TWO ENORMOUS HOLLY TREES.
HOLLY BUSHES THAT HAVE GROWN INTO TREES.
THESE ARE GENERATIONAL PLANTS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE 40, 50FT HIGH, TOO, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE REVISIONS WILL PRESERVE.
AND SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT BASED ON THAT, I'M OPPOSED TO TO THE CURRENT PLAN.
NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBYN PIFER.
I LIVE AT 450 CLAREMONT AVENUE.
I AM DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS CLAREMONT AVENUE FROM THE BACKSIDE OF THE CHURCH, AND I SPOKE AT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING, SO I WON'T GO OVER THAT AGAIN, ALTHOUGH I DID FIND A READING, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO EMAIL YOU ALL FROM A HISTORICAL SOCIETY THAT DID A REVIEW OF THE CHURCH THAT COMMENTS ON THE SPECIFIC ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO IT.
[00:25:07]
AVENUE. I'M AT THE CORNER OF PONCE PLACE AND CLAREMONT AVENUE, AND MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY WE HEAR SCREECHING TIRES AT THAT INTERSECTION OF PONCE PLACE AND CLAREMONT, WHICH IS RIGHT BY THE PRESCHOOL.IT IS PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING DOWN CLAREMONT AVENUE COMING TOWARD THE CITY.
IN FACT, SOMEBODY JUST RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, TO AVOID SOMEONE MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF OF PONCE PLACE, SOMEBODY SPEEDING DOWN CLAREMONT HOPPED THE CURB AND TOOK OUT OUR FRONT ALUMINUM FENCE.
AND SO IT'S JUST NOT IT CONCERNS ME GREATLY TO THINK ABOUT PUTTING MORE KIDS THERE, HAVING MORE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, POSSIBLY HAVING MORE CAR TRAFFIC.
IF SOMEBODY TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, IT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
I JUST I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THIS.
AND ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN TO HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE KNOWS THAT IT IS IT IS A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE.
AND I SEE KIDS DO IT STILL LIKE TODAY WHEN THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAN'T FIND PARKING ON ERIE AND THEY PARK ON PONCE PLACE AND THEY RUN ACROSS THE STREET. SO IT'S JUST.
REALLY CONCERNS ME TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT ARE IN THAT PRESCHOOL.
IT WOULD HAVE MORE KIDS THAN CLAREMONT ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS A KNOW K THROUGH TWO.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT I FOUND WAS ABOUT 100.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW WHO HAD LESS AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW WHO HAD A LITTLE MORE.
OKAY. SORRY. THE MAX WAS 200, SO THIS WOULD BE QUITE A BIT BIGGER.
GOOD EVENING. I'M KATE LAWS AND I LIVE AT 510 CLAREMONT AVENUE.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OVER 25 YEARS, JOYFULLY ACROSS FROM THE CHURCH AND WATCHED IT HAVE DIFFERENT PRESCHOOLS COME AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND EVOLVE AND NEVER OBJECTED TO THAT.
HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE I DO NOT SEE HOW IT IS FEASIBLE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OR NOR WHY WOULD ANYONE IN DECATUR WANT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD? WE ARE STILL ADJUSTING TO THE HIGH DENSITY OF BUILDINGS THAT HAVE NOT HAD RESIDENTS MOVE INTO IT YET.
MY TEN MINUTE COMMUTE TO WORK, WHICH IS TWO MILES AWAY, HAS INCREASED TO 25 MINUTES.
UH, WITH PERHAPS, I HOPE, BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND THAT WILL EASE.
I ALSO QUESTION THE EXPANSION OF USES.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROPOSAL, IT'S QUITE A FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT THEY'LL BE ADDING CAMPS AND THINGS DURING DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR TO HELP PARENTS OR TO SEEK OUT NEW, NEW PARTICIPANTS, NEW FAMILIES TO ATTEND.
AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
RIGHT. ALSO, THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE THAT WAS RAISED BY MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS, I THINK IS REALLY NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED BY THE BY DOUBLING THE CAPACITY.
I THINK 148 IS A GREAT NUMBER.
AND I ALSO WOULD QUESTION THEIR PLANS FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP.
THEY USED TO HAVE A LINE WHERE THEY DROPPED OFF AND PICKED UP AND NOW I THINK THE PARENTS GO INSIDE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
[00:30:02]
GOOD EVENING, MARC. ETHAN.I RESIDE AT 316 SUPERIOR AVENUE.
WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OF SORT OF THE BIG PICTURE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COMMISSION'S ROLE IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS. WHEN I THINK OF INSTITUTIONAL ZONING, I THINK OF CHURCHES, MUSEUMS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, USUALLY OWNED OR MANAGED BY BOARDS.
PROFIT IS TYPICALLY NOT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THESE GROUPS.
I I'M ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR LEGACY PARK AND WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY ANY APPLICATIONS FOR USE WITHIN THE PROPERTY BEFORE IT WOULD EVEN GET TO A CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING PROCESS.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, WHEN HELD BY A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER IN AN INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCY, CAN CHANGE AND AFFECT THE VALUE OF A PROPERTY.
ON A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS IF THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WAS APPROVED FOR 300 STUDENTS, THAT PROPERTY IS MORE VALUABLE TOMORROW THAN IT WAS TODAY AT 148 STUDENTS.
IS THAT REALLY THE POINT OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING PROCESS TO, IN ESSENCE CHANGE THE SUB USE OF ZONING WITHIN AN INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCY? I DON'T THINK THAT A MUSEUM OR A CHURCH, IF YOU APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, IS GOING TO RAISE THE PROPERTY VALUE CONSIDERABLY BECAUSE THE OVERALL ARCHING MISSION OF THAT INSTITUTION IS DIFFERENT THAN IF IT'S A PRIVATELY HELD FOR PROFIT BUSINESS.
MY NAME IS DEBORAH PAINTER AND I LIVE AT 320 SUPERIOR AVENUE.
PROBABLY THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL.
I WALK DOWN ERIE AVENUE EVERY DAY WALKING MY DOG.
THE WILDLIFE, THE BIRDS, EVERYTHING.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A TRAGEDY.
BUT I WANT TO SEE. HER WEBSITE SAYS SMARTIES ACADEMY IS LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CITY OF DECATUR.
IF SHE'S GOT 148 STUDENTS AND SHE'S DOING IT WELL, THAT'S WHAT SHE NEEDS TO CONTINUE DOING, IS DOING IT WELL AT 148 STUDENTS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ADD EVERYTHING ELSE WITH 300 STUDENTS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? YES. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SPEAKING OPPOSITION OR IN SUPPORT.
CAN WE HAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR REMARKS AND THE MIC? ONE, TWO, FIVE. GREENWOOD PLACE.
I'M A MY DAUGHTER IS AT SMARTIES ACADEMY.
I WOULDN'T MIND MORE KIDS ATTENDING SMARTIES ACADEMY, BUT I'M TERRIFIED OF ALL THE TRAFFIC.
I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AS MUCH AS I CAN, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CARS THAT GO IN, AND I'D LIKE THAT TO BE A CONSIDERATION ABOUT MAKING CLAREMONT NOT A HELLSCAPE WHEN I'M TRYING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN.
THANK YOU. THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
TYPICALLY, THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH WE WOULD INVITE THE APPLICANT BACK UP TO PRESENT REBUTTAL.
CONSIDER THE REQUEST TO DEFER BECAUSE WE WILL BE MAKING THE CHANGES TO OUR SITE PLAN AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING ALL THOSE COMMENTS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS REGARDING THE TRAFFIC.
I HEARD A COUPLE COMMENTS WHICH WHICH WERE NOT TRUE.
[00:35:07]
WE ARE LOOKING INTO 300 STUDENT BUT TRULY WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE 250 STUDENTS AND HAVE AN OPTION TO HAVE OUR TEACHERS, CHILDREN AND OUR OUR EXISTING FAMILIES CHILDREN FOR THE SUMMER CAMPS DURING THE SUMMER TIME. SO WE CANNOT REQUEST 250 TO 160 STUDENTS ENROLLMENT AND THEN FOR SUMMER TIME INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT AMOUNT. BUT WE WILL WE WILL HAVE ALL THOSE INFORMATIONS IN DETAILS WITH THE NEW UPDATED SITE PLAN.SO I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DEFER FOR ONE MORE CYCLE.
AND YES, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON IT.
OKAY. WE ALREADY HAVE ALL TRAFFIC STUDIES.
WE MOST OF OUR DOCUMENTS? YES, MOST OF OUR DOCUMENTS.
IT'S JUST WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO UPLOAD AND FINALIZE ALL THE SITE PLAN.
SO I WILL REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU CONSIDER.
ALL RIGHT. SO NOW IS THE POINT IN THE MEETING WHERE WE SPEAK AMONGST OURSELVES.
I HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT TERMS. SAFETY TREES.
RESIDENTIAL STREET CAPACITIES.
POLLUTION. HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WELL, MAYBE. MAYBE WE HAVEN'T DECIDED YET.
I DON'T THINK IT HURTS ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. AND IT WILL AT LEAST GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THEN THE NEIGHBORS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO COME BACK AND REAFFIRM THEIR WHETHER THEIR TERMS HAVE BEEN.
SHE MAY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T WANT TO GO AFTER 300.
WHO KNOWS? BUT I WOULD AT LEAST GIVE HER THE CHANCE TO ADDRESS THIS LONG LIST OF ITEMS. I AGREE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A DIFFERENT THOUGHT? WOULD BE MY INCLINATION.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP AT THAT APPROPRIATE POINT.
ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT WEIGHING IN FAVOR OR AGAINST IT RIGHT NOW.
NO, NOT NOT RIGHT THIS SECOND.
NO. GIVING THEM THE ALL PARTIES A CHANCE TO WORK, WORK MORE AND MAYBE COME TO A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. OR AT LEAST GET CLOSER.
OR GET CLOSER. YEAH, GET CLOSER.
YEAH. THERE'S A BIG GAP RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? BUT DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS APPLICATION FOR 30 DAYS TO OUR NEXT MEETING? OH, SORRY. I WANT TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE DATE.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER? PER THAT REQUEST TO MAY THE 9TH.
DOES IT HAVE TO? DOES THE MOTION HAVE TO BE DEFERRED TO A SPECIFIC DATE, OR CAN IT SIMPLY BE DEFERRED? IT DOES, YES.
SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE.
OTHERWISE THEY'D HAVE TO TABLE IT.
CORRECT. AND THEN SHE WOULD HAVE TO REFILE EVERYTHING.
SO WE REALLY DO NEED A DATE SPECIFIC TIME.
OKAY. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER THE APPLICATION TO OUR MAY THE 9TH HEARING? I MOVE TO DEFER THE MOTION TO TUESDAY, MAY THE 9TH.
ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE DEFER THIS APPLICATION TO OUR MAY THE 9TH AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE.
AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED ANY ABSTAINS.
ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
YES. IF SHE'S WEARING SOMETHING THAT.
WE'RE JUST DELAYING OUR SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW AND AND RECOMMENDATION UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING.
[00:40:08]
BUT IT WILL BE THE SAME APPLICATION.WELL, I MEAN, IT'LL BE REVISED BASED ON THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, BUT IT'S STILL, FOR TECHNICAL PURPOSES, THE SAME APPLICATION. SO.
WELL, NO, NO. AND IF I IF I MAY ADD THAT ANY NEW MATERIALS WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO POST TO THE CITY'S WEB PAGE OR PLANNING COMMISSION WEB PAGE FOR MAY 9TH, ANY UPDATES TO THE STAFF REPORT, ANY NEW APPLICATIONS, SUBMITTAL MATERIALS? ALL THAT GETS UPLOADED TO THE MAY 9TH MEETING PAGE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN PUBLICLY ACCESS THAT, AND WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO DO THAT BY MAY 2ND THE WEEK BEFORE. OKAY.
I THINK LET ME LET ME YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH, WAS MORE SPECIFIC.
DO THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BECAUSE OF CHANGES? SO SO WELL, SHE WOULD BE COMING BACK HERE WITH AN ADVERSE RECOMMENDATION.
YOU WANT TO SEND HER BACK TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR A SHOT AT APPROVAL? SO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION, AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED THEIR COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO THE ARCHITECTURE.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE APPLICANT, THEY ARE NOT LOOKING TO UPDATE THEIR ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.
IT'S MORE ABOUT THE SITE PLAN AND THE TREES, ETCETERA.
THEY HAVE PROVIDED A RECOMMENDATION AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED THEIR CONCERNS WITHIN YOUR DESK PACKET.
KNOW THE MATERIALS THAT YOU ARE ALL PROVIDED WITH.
ALL RIGHT. THEY HAVE DONE THEIR PART.
SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THOSE TWO APPLICATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
ANGELA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? I ONLY WANT TO TO SHARE.
I'M THANKFUL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR THIRD AND FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 27TH, FROM 630 TO 830 AT THE DECATUR RECREATION CENTER.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SHARE THE GOALS, THE OBJECTIVES.
WE DO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY SITES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR CONCEPTUAL PLANS.
ALSO SHARING SOME CONCEPTUAL IDEAS FOR THE REDESIGN OF THE DECATUR SQUARE, JUST GIVING IT A REFRESH, NOT A MAJOR OVERHAUL, BUT A REFRESH FOR OUR LIVING ROOM, OUR CITY'S LIVING ROOM, OUR FRONT PORCH.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.