Friday, July 19, 2002

Packed house for council meeting

By JANET McGREGOR
snippets@bellsouth.net

It was standing room only at the Union City Council Meeting Tuesday night. Residents from the Valley Lakes subdivision and other concerned citizens packed the room to voice their opposition to a rezoning request, a text amendment to include group day care homes as a permitted use for home occupations and a cut in recreation services. Many of the residents showed a keen interest in other business on the agenda, commenting throughout the evening on various proposed items.

Mayor Moore read a prepared statement regarding a tax increase to the City's tax digest. It is required that when a city or county has an increase in their tax digest the tax payers must be notified via public hearings if there is not a roll back in assessed taxes.

Union City had an increase of $17,543,543 representing 7 percent of the assessed value on the total increase in the digest. According to the mayor, the increase is due to growth in the city and reassessment by the county of property in the city.

Due to the cost of providing services to the citizens of the city, the city's millage rate for 2002 will remain at 7.5 mills. There will not be a tax increase in the millage rate this year.

City Manager Sonya Carter gave an overview of the proposed 2002-03 budget. The completed budget will be presented at the August council meeting. A cut in recreation drew pointed comments from some in the audience. Mayor Moore stood his ground, citing a lack of support from the public for programs. He noted that other than one program other than those provided for seniors has more than four in attendance.

The council voted to replace the CUP (Community Unit Development) zoning category with a new PUD (Planned Unit Development) zoning. A moratorium has been in effect for CUP zoning for the past nine months. The PUD allows for larger acreage, includes a greenspace requirement and other changes.

Chinnery Milam requested a text amendment which would allow group day care homes to be permitted as a use for home occupations. Ms. Milam is currently operating a day care in her home and hoped to be able to increase the number of children she cared for. Current requirements permit a maximum of six children to be cared for in a home, the amendment would have increased the number allowed to increase to up to 18. Although supportive of Ms. Milam, after much discussion the Council voted to deny the change based on potential problems from increased traffic in residential areas.

A text amendment was approved to the Zoning Ordinance to include full-service dry cleaners as a permitted use in neighborhood commercial zones, Sections 6 - 10.

A request to rezone property at 5015 Cottage Grove Place from Residential Single Family R-4 to Residential Single Family R-6 resulted in a lengthy debate between Council, individuals in opposition and the property owners. Surrounding neighbors were concerned about the size of the lots and homes. The Council voted to approve the request to subdivide the property into four lots and to change the zoning.

The request which drew neighbors from the Valley Lakes subdivision was ultimately referred back to the Planning Commission for review. One member after another from the audience stood to voice their opposition to the proposed change from R-1 to R-6. The Planning Commission had recommended that the zoning be changed to R-3 which requires larger homes and lots than R-6, however the land owner and developer stated they could not develop the property at R-3. They suggested a compromise to R-4 zoning which they felt would allow a step down between the R-6 Torrey Homes development and the neighboring Valley Lakes subdivision, a CUP overlay district which has larger homes comparable to the R-3 zoning.

After lengthy comments from surrounding homeowners and discussion among the Council, it was determined that a subsequent review of the proposed compromise was needed by the Planning Commission.

In old business, an agreement was approved between the City and Old Virginia Condominiums regarding their delinquent water bill. Old Virginia has made one payment to settle the debt and will make four more to bring the bill to a current status. James Walker, President of the Homeowner's Association, updated the Council and Mayor regarding Old Virginia's progress in fixing the problems which resulted in the delinquent bill.

In other business, the Council voted to adopt the State 2000 Life Safety Code and the 2002 National Electrical Code and to rezone various properties form Light Industrial to General Commercial. The Council voted to implement a new mandatory state fee to be collected by Professional Probation Services, Inc. on fines. The fee for the Georgia Crime Victim fund increased from $3 to $6 with the Council's approval.

Pedestrian signs will be placed on the Highpoint Road bridge and approval was given to apply for $71,451 in Greenspace funds.

Group VI was awarded the contract to build the new fire station to be located on High Point Road. Director Bobby Fronebargar gave a glowing report regarding the First Annual Bicycle Race held in Union City in June. He requested approval for the 2003 race and asked for $15,000 to finance the race. Noting the numerous benefits to the community resulting from an influx of tourists, the Council approved both requests.