City holds Special Call, Zoning and Work Session Sept. 19
Announcements, Community September 19, 2022
DAHLONEGA, Ga.- The City Council is holding a special call meeting, a board of zoning appeals meeting, and the monthly work session on Sept. 19 beginning at 4:00 p.m.
The meetings and work session are open to the public. These are the agendas for all three.
Special Call Meeting:
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS
1. Resolution 2022-15 and Intergovernmental Agreement for use and distribution of
proceeds generated by the 2023 transportation special purpose local option sales tax
referendum
Doug Parks, City Attorney
ADJOURNMENT
Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting:
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
New Business
1. BZA 22-1 Randy Hampton
Randy Hampton is requesting to vary from the front setback along Martin
Street of a +/- 0.26-acre property located at 130 Park Street South (D11-109).
This parcel is zoned R-1 (Single-Family Residential District). The purpose of
this request is to build a screened-in porch.
Adjournment
Work Session:
OPEN MEETING
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
BOARDS & COMMITTEES:
1. Cemetery Committee—August 2022
Chris Worick, Committee Chairman
2. Downtown Dahlonega – August 2022
Ariel Alexander, Downtown Manager
TOURISM: Sam McDuffie, Tourism Director
3. DLCVB Tourism Report
Sam McDuffie, Tourism Director
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
4. Community Development – August 2022
Jameson Kinley, Planning and Zoning Administrator
5. Dahlonega Police Department – August 2022
George Albert, Chief of Police
6. Finance and Administration Department – August 2022
Allison Martin, Finance Director
7. Public Works – August 2022
Mark Buchanan, PW Director/City Engineer
8. Water & Wastewater Treatment Department Report – August 2022
John Jarrard, Water/Wastewater Treatment Director
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
9. LOST – Local Option Sales Tax
JoAnne Taylor, Mayor
10. Resolution 2022-15 and Intergovernmental Agreement for use and distribution of
proceeds generated by the 2023 transportation special purpose local option sales tax
referendum
Doug Parks, City Attorney
11. Ordinance 2022-12: Ordinance to allow for commercial walking tours of Mount Hope
Cemetery.
Doug Parks, City Attorney
12. Ordinance 2022-13 – Cross-connection
Mark Buchanan, City Engineer & John Jarrard, JWS
13. Choice Street Parking Lot Resurfacing
Vince Hunsinger, Capital Projects Manager
14. Project # 2021-019 Choice Street Sidewalk
Vince Hunsinger, Capital Project Manager
15. Proposed Construction Easement Pinetree Way
Allison Martin, Finance Director
16. Intergovernmental Service Agreement – Downtown Development Authority
Allison Martin, Finance Director
17. Resolution 2022-14 – FY22 Budget Amendment for Additional Tourism Funds
Allison Martin, Finance Director
18. 2023 Employee Benefits Program
Allison Martin, Finance Director
Matt Bidwell, MSI Benefits Group, Inc.
COMMENTS – PLEASE LIMIT TO THREE MINUTES
Clerk Comments
City Manager Comments
City Attorney Comments
City Council Comments
Mayor Comments
ADJOURNMENT
Preserving Dahlonega’s charm; concerned residents with rezoning project in Dahlonega
Community, News, Police & Government November 18, 2020
rezoning
Residents flooded the Dahlonega City Council meeting, on Nov. 16, to stress their concerns for a future development in the region on rezoning. The development up for discussion being student housing. There is land – over 10 acres – right across from the Dahlonega Baptist Church that Signet Real Estate Group wants to utilize for such plans.
Major concerns with Dahlonega natives include traffic, impact on infrastructure, preservation of natural resources and noise/behavior of residents.
The breakdown brought by the Signet Group presented their plan of proposed use: a 92 unit – 298 bed – apartment house. With 217 parking spots. The plan was laid out for affordable housing for the college-aged demographic.
George Butler, attorney and resident of Lumpkin County, presented the alternative side which also seemed to be the community’s consensus. Butler spoke in defense of the Baptist church.
The area that the apartment organization desires to build on is registered on the national registrar of historic districts, according to Butler. It is known as the Hawkins Street Historic District.
The demographic for the historic district is mostly single-family homes. Since the rise of COVID-19, Butler said that real estate values are going up exponentially. People are moving out of Atlanta, relocating to work remotely and there is need elsewhere; not student housing.
“Student apartments is not consistent with the visioning that Dahlonega is noted for its single-family, small town charm and whatever else you can say about student housing, it’s not charming,” Butler said.
Ethan Underwood, attorney for Signet Real Estate Group, said the plan for the development was submitted in the late summer. The organization, though, has been interested in the project for well over a year, according to Underwood.
Via communication with the University of North Georgia, they have identified a need for “high-quality student housing.” Underwood said there’s a lack of student housing and they are hoping to fix that, while also maintaining the charm of Dahlonega.
Signet Group went straight to establishing their plan with Planned Unit Development District also known PUD. Underwood said the current R1- single-family residential district plan would not work.
“The current zoning property is unconstitutional,” Underwood said. “It cannot be developed in an economically feasible manner. We’re trying to emphasize this use will satisfy the need for student housing but also would be a good fit for the community.”
A decision and vote still has yet to be made by council members. Discussion will continue at the next city council meeting on Dec. 7.