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Planning Commission OKs ex-mayor’s request

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

After more than two months of community dischord, the saga involving moving a house to Seavy Street in Senoia may have finally reached its conclusion this week.

The Senoia Planning Commission gave unanimous approval Tuesday night to former Mayor Dianne Cleveland’s request to add-on to a rental home she has moved to 419 Seavy Street. Last month, the City Council refused Cleveland’s request for a 750 sq.ft variance to the minimum square feet requirements. The city’s minimum is 1,500 sq. ft. and the Council would not budge on the request.

“I worked with Dianne when she was mayor on getting the minimum house size increased and we need to stick to it,” said Councilmember Bill Wood.

The former house that sat on the lot was 672 sq.ft and burned down in 2001.

So, Tuesday night, Cleveland and her representative former city administrator Murray McAfee brought a new set of plans and photos to ask the Planning Commission for a certificate of appropriateness.

Cleveland plans to move another house behind the existing home that has been moved on the property and connect them with a 10’ x 12’ room.

“We’re doing this to meet the square feet requirements,’ Cleveland said.

While the Planning Commission approved the concept. they were not too keen on adding the additional space.

“I like just having the original house there,” said member Lynne Wendt.

The members wondered if they could ask the City Council to rescind the vote on the variance, but were told it is not something they could do.

“I tried to explain it was going to look stupid,” said McAfee.

McAfee said the expanded house would come very close to the building lines, and would be far more in the public’s view than just the original home.

Member Jim Garver said he would favor having an historic preservation commission that would set standards and issue the certificates, instead of the Planning Commission.

But, in the end, Cleveland and McAfee walked out of City Hall with their certificate and plan to get busy moving the next house on the lot.