City of Lilburn
City Council Meeting Agenda
This item was tabled in December 2021, for additional review by the city attorney. Subsequent edits recommended by the city attorney do not warrant re-review by the Planning Commission.
The Lilburn Zoning Ordinance Article 10, Section 1002 provides for text amendments initiated by the Planning Department, Planning Commission or City Council. Planning Department recommends Article 5, Section 501 and 502 be amended to reference Chapter 113-Signs and add sign standards specific to anticipated redevelopment in the Historic Main Street Hospitality Zone within the larger Town Center Overlay District.
The proposed amendments aim to reflect the goals of the City to accommodate unique developments typical of downtown or main street corridors, with pedestrian scale architecture that may have smaller building setbacks and front yards, more narrow and vertical building construction, multiple floors and tenant spaces, and possibly multiple uses. New code section in Article 5 addresses building sign area calculations based on street frontage, sign types, location, height, and lighting and amendments to Chapter 113.
Cross referencing the ordinance requirements supports businesses and residential properties, provides more efficient review of sign applications, and assists with code compliance which contributes positively to the public health, safety and general welfare.
Public notice was provided, and the Planning Commission recommended approval during Public Hearing October 28, 2021.
In accordance with Zoning Article 10, Section 1003, City Council may initiate map amendments to the Official Zoning Map of Lilburn. The subject site was zoned MU in 2020 via City initiated action (RZ-2020-02) to accommodate flexibility in an anticipated development proposal. The successful development group, Fire Brigade Development Company, LLC is now working with the Lilburn Downtown Development Authority to finalize plans for an 29,112 square foot multi-tenant commercial space, whose primary tenant will be a new brewery. The space is proposed to also include restaurants and retail/commercial uses but does not include residential uses.
In addition, the brewery use requires a Special Use Permit according to provisions established in Article 7, Section 737. The city-initiated map amendment and rezoning with Special Use Permit accommodates the accepted development proposal and supports the City’s goal in redeveloping the previous industrial site.
All public notice requirements were met, no public comments in support of or in opposition to have been received. Staff analysis recommended approval and Planning Commission public hearing was held December 16, 7:30 p.m. wherein the commission recommended approval of the rezoning, special use permit, and map amendment.
City Zoning Ordinance Article 10, Section 1002 provides for text amendments initiated by Planning Department, Planning Commission, or City Council. Based on feedback from City Council, Planning Department recommends the 2011 Lilburn Zoning Ordinance text be amended within Art. 4, Sec. 406 and Art.7, Sec. 736 to address Mixed-Use Districts and developments.
The intent of changing the applicable code sections is to add specific criteria to ensure minimum acreage, land areas and floor areas of compatible residential and non-residential uses and construction phasing to ensure non-residential uses are provided to support residential uses. The amendments reflect the goals of City Council and Planning Department to maintain flexibility in the Master Concept Plan but provide clarity to applicants and more efficient review of mixed-use proposals. The amendments reinforce city’s development goals for areas identified as suitable for MU, including but not limited to interparcel connectivity, pedestrian access, shared open space and encourage cohesive architectural elements.
Public notice was provided and no comments were recorded. Planning Commission recommended approval of text amendments with discussion.
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