February 1, 1999 Council Meeting
February 1, 1999
The regular scheduled meeting of Mayor and Council was held at Smyrna City Hall. The
meeting was called to order by presiding officer Mayor A. Max Bacon at 7:30 o'clock p.m.
All council members were present. Also present was City Administrator Howard Smith, City
Clerk Melinda Dameron, City Attorney Charles E. Camp and representatives of the press.
Invocation was given by Reverend Matt Fredrick, followed by the pledge to the flag.
CITIZENS INPUT:
..
Mayor Bacon announced there will be a special election on February 23, 1999, for the 6th
District congressional seat vacated by Newt Gingrich. Mayor Bacon then asked Jack Cramer to
introduce Johnny Isakson, candidate for that position. Mr. Isakson thanked the city for the
opportunity to address the public and then asked the citizens for their support at the polls on
February 23, 1999.
Mayor Bacon informed Mr. Isakson that the next guests, from Lindley Middle School, are here
as part of the city's program to support local education. Mayor Bacon explained that during the
first council meeting of each month, students from area schools are invited to attend and
explain their participation in the "Character Education" program. Mayor Bacon asked Ms.
Eve Israel Hiles to come forward. Ms. Hiles introduced Antonio Yarbrough, David
Richardson and Patricia Grosse. Ms. Hiles discussed how Lindley Middle School promotes
character and the children presented their presentation of the words of the week" acceptance,"
"cooperation" and "justice and fairness." Mayor Bacon thanked Ms. Hiles and the students
for attending the meeting tonight and presented them with gift bags.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
(A) Rezoning Request - 3860 South Cobb Drive (1.94 Acres) Rezone Property from 0.1.
To G.c.
..
Mayor Bacon stated he understood this item will be tabled this evening. Mr. Smith stated the
applicant, Wade Ford, is requesting the zoning change for a used car'sales lot. Councilman
Wood stated the city has received a letter requesting that the application for rezoning be
withdrawn. Mr. Wood stated the letter was received January 29, 1999, prior to 5:00 p.m. He
quoted the letter as follows: "On behalf of Wade Ford, we wish to withdraw the zoning
application on the above referenced property without prejudice. We appreciate your
consideration of this request." Councilman Wood made a motion that the request to withdraw
this application without prejudice be approved. Councilman Hawkins seconded the motion.
Mayor Bacon stated this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present who wished to
make any comments or ask any questions concerning this rezoning request. Mayor Bacon
recognized Mr. and Mrs. Ray Loureiro, Jr., 4008 Rhyne Circle and Bruce Rose, 4004 Rhyne
Circle. All parties expressed their concern that this property might become a used-car sales lot.
Councilman Wood stated that approximately one and one-half acres of that property is zoned
0&1 and on the corner of South Cobb Drive and King Springs Road is about one-half acre that
is zoned G. C. He further stated this request was to rezone all of the property to G. C. Mr.
Wood stated that at some future time the rezoning request could be brought back before the
Mayor and Council. He stated the current zoning is primarily Office and Institutional which
means no retail sales, no parking lots, etc. Mr. Wood stated this item first came before
Council January 4, 1999, and was tabled to February 1, 1999, to allow the city to receive input
from the residents affected by the proposed rezoning.
Motion to approve the withdrawal of the rezoning request, without prejudice, was approved 7-
O.
..
(B)
Variance Request - 900 Windy Hill Road - To Have Two Oversized Building Signs
Mayor Bacon stated Items (B) and (C) affect the same property and will be discussed as one
item but voted on individually. Mr. Smith stated the applicant, Gordy Tire, is requesting two
over-sized building signs - one on Windy Hill Road and one on Ward Street - and the signs
would be 52 square feet instead of 40 square feet as allowed in the ordinance. Mayor Bacon
stated this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present in opposition to the granting of
these variance requests. There was no opposition.
February 1, 1999, meeting - continued
Councilman Cramer recognized Mel Vukas, President, and Brad Kacher. Mr. Cramer asked
Mr. Vukas to explain why the variances are being requested. Mr. Vukas stated this building
will be located at the corner of Windy Hill Road and Ward Street and would like to have two
signs so the business could be seen from either of the two streets. Mr. Vukas stated the sign
will be approximately 3 1/2 feet x IS feet and the colors will be red and blue and they hope to
open by March 1, 1999. Councilman Lnenicka asked Mr. Vukas if they plan to have a
monument style sign on the property and he responded they do but it has not been designed yet.
Mr. Vukas stated he did not know if they will need a variance for the monument sign at this
point in time.
Councilman Cramer made a motion that the variance request at 900 Windy Hill Road to have
two oversized building signs be approved. Councilman Hawkins seconded the motion. Motion
was approved 7-0.
--
(C) Variance Request - 900 Windy Hill Road - To Have More than One Wall-mounted
Sign
See narrative above. Councilman Cramer made a motion that the variance request at 900
Windy Hill Road to have more than one wall-mounted sign be approved. Councilman Lnenicka
seconded the motion. Councilman Newcomb stated the reason this variance is being requested
and considered for approval is due to the fact that the building is located at an intersection and
the signs will face the main street and one will face the street that comes beside it and the
business is located on a corner lot. Motion was approved 7-0.
(D) Rezoning Request - 3016 Atlanta Road (0.946 Acres) - From R-20 to L.C.
Mr. Smith stated this item will be tabled. Mr. Smith further stated the applicant is requesting
to build a bank on this property and the plans presented to the Mayor and Council show no curb
cut on Atlanta Road but shows a driveway cut into the Amoco lot to the north of subject
property and two curb cuts on Quarles Avenue. Mayor Bacon stated this is a public hearing
and asked if anyone was present who wished to address this item. There was no one present to
address this request.
Councilman Hawkins stated at the request of the applicant this item will be tabled until the
February 15, 1999, council meeting. Councilman Hawkins stated there are several issues
concerning ingress/egress that are still be worked out. Councilman Hawkins made a motion
that the rezoning request at 3016 Atlanta Road (0.946 Acres) to rezone from R-20 to L.C. be
tabled to February 15, 1999. Councilman Scoggins seconded the motion. Motion to table was
approved 7-0.
--
(E) Variance Request - 653 San Fernando Drive - Reduce Front Yard Setback from 40
Feet to 30 Feet
Mr. Smith stated the applicant, Kenneth Haygood, is requesting this variance to reduce the
building line from 40 feet to 30 feet to accommodate an addition to their home. Mr. Smith
stated there are letters in the packet from the adjoining neighbors stating they have no
objections to the variance being requested. Mayor Bacon stated this is a public hearing and
asked if anyone was present in opposition to the granting of this variance request. There was
no opposition.
Councilman Cramer asked Mr. Haygood to briefly explain why the variance is being requested.
Mr. Haygood stated he wants to remove the front porch from their home and extend the front
side of their home forward to where the porch was located. He further stated this will allow
them to enlarge their living room and dining room. Councilman Cramer noted for the record
that the two adjoining neighbors have no objection to the variance being requested.
Councilman Cramer made a motion that the variance request at 653 San Fernando Drive to
reduce the front yard setback from 40 feet to 30 feet be approved. Councilman Lnenicka
seconded the motion. Motion was approved 7-0.
--
February 1, 1999, meeting - continued
(F) Rezoning Request - 206 Head Drive (0.48 Acres) - Rezone from R-20 to RAD-
Conditional
Mr. Smith stated this parcel was not included in the original annexation request when the
Ennisbrook Subdivision was annexed into the city. He stated the 0.48-acre is being added at
this time and the parcel abuts the subdivision and will create two additional lots of the
subdivision. Mr. Smith stated this request was heard by the Planning and Zoning Board on
January 11, 1999, and approved 5-0 and will also involve the annexation of the property.
Mayor Bacon stated this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present in opposition to the
granting of this request. There was no opposition.
-
Councilman Cramer asked Mr. Kevin Moore, representing the applicant and property owners
Priske-Jones, who are also developing the property. Mr. Moore stated Mr. Bruce Stanfield,
Priske-Jones, is also present this evening. Mr. Moore stated this parcel is only a .48 acre tract
and the master plan was zoned RAD-Conditional; there are 173 units in the subdivision and the
price range is from $160,000 to $200,000. Mr. Moore stated the property in question is
basically a remnant piece that was not included in the original purchase and the only access it
has is to the new proposed subdivision street. Mr. Moore stated this parcel involves a rezoning
request and the annexation of the property. Mr. Moore stated the stipulations placed on the
master site plan will also apply to this remnant with the exception of these two lots will having
different setbacks.
Councilman Cramer made a motion that the request to rezone 0.48 acres abutting the
Ennisbrook Subdivision from R-20 to RAD-Conditional be approved with the original
stipulations placed on the property being in effect. Councilman Cramer stated these two lots
will have different setbacks from the other lots in the overall master plan. Councilman Wood
seconded the motion. Motion was approved 7-0.
(G) Annexation of Property - 206 Head Drive (0.48 Acres) Land Lot 268, 17th District, 2nd
Section, Cobb County, Georgia
Mayor Bacon stated this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present in opposition to the
annexation of this property. There was no opposition.
...
Councilman Cramer made a motion that the annexation of the property at 206 Head Drive (0.48
Acres) in Land Lot 268, 2nd Section, 17ili District, Cobb County, Georgia, to become a part of
Ward 5, effective March 1, 1999, be approved. Councilman Wood seconded the motion.
Motion was approved 7-0.
FORMAL BUSINESS:
(A) Approve Contract with SCANA Energy Marketing and Authorize Mayor to Sign and
Execute Contract
Councilman Lnenicka stated the contract before the Mayor and Council has been recommended
by Jack Millet, Purchasing Manager, and city staff. Mr. Lnenicka stated the city staff has
reviewed the contract with the assistance of the Georgia Municipal Association and have
recommended the city sign a contract with SCANA Energy Marketing as the city's natural gas
provider. Mr. Lnenicka stated this contract is basically a 30-day contract which allows the city
to cancel the contract with a thirty-day notice if so desired and allows the city flexibility to
select another provider if so desired. Mr. Lnenicka stated there is a substantial savings
projected ranging from $45,000 and $49,000 per year.
Councilman Lnenicka made a motion to approve the recommended agreement to purchase
natural gas from SCANA Energy Marketing and authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary
contract document. Councilman Wood seconded the motion. Motion was approved 7-0.
-
COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS:
There were none.
February 1, 1999, meeting - continued
BID AWARDS:
(A) Bid A ward (Bid #98088) - Field Rake (Attachment) and Turf Gator for Parks and
Recreation Department
Councilman Scoggins stated Georgia Turf is the low, qualified bidder for the field rake,
attachment and turf gator and J. L. Dowda is the low, qualified bidder for the mower only.
Councilman Scoggins stated the Parks and Recreation Committee recommends splitting the bid
among Georgia Turf and Tractor ($13,692) and J. L. Dowda Lawn and Garden ($12,400) and
moved approval of the bid award as recommended. Councilman Cramer seconded the motion.
Motion was approved 7-0.
CONSENT AGENDA:
....,
(A) Approval of January 19, 1999, Minutes
(B) Approval of Budget Transfer - Parks Facilities Division
(C) Approval to Request Proposals for Audit Services
(D) Approve Purchase of Emergency Generator for Fire Department
(E) Ratify Agreement Between City and Children and Youth Coordinating Council to apply
for Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant
Councilman Lnenicka made a motion the Consent Agenda be approved. Councilman Cramer
seconded the motion. Motion was approved 7-0.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Capilouto, Councilman Scoggins, Councilman Lnenicka, Councilman Wood
had no committee reports this evening.
Councilman Newcomb announced the city held the groundbreaking ceremony for the new fire
station last week and the building will proceed rapidly and by either late July or early August
the facility should be ready for a public walk-through. Mr. Newcomb stated the official
dedication will be held at the annual birthday celebration in August.
.....,
Councilman Hawkins announced this is the last month for the leaf-vacuum program until
November.
Councilman Cramer announced there will be Veterans Memorial Committee Meeting on
February 8, 1999, in the Council Chambers, at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Bacon stated the elected officials attended their annual retreat in Athens, GA, this past
weekend.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
....,
February 1, 1999, meeting - continued
...
~~~
LL SC GGINS, WA
t1J;t{?u~
ACK CRAMER, WARD 5
~~~
CHARLES PETE WOOD, WARD 7 \
-
-
QA"".J~ ~~ -
MELINDA DA RON, CITY CLERK
~.~ J~
RON NEWCOMB, WARD 2
-~
JAMES M. HAWKINS, WARD 4
-
......
...,