VALDOSTA — The Valdosta City Council extensively reviewed proposed amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDR) during its work session Tuesday.

Some of the highlights of the proposed amendments are as follows.



TABLE OF PERMITTED USES

• By allowing professional offices to be placed in the permitted uses table, they will once again fall under commercial zoning districts.



SUPPLEMENTAL  REGULATIONS FOR  DRIVE-THRU FACILITIES

• The drive-thru lane at fast-food restaurants, banks, pharmaceutical drug stores, and other businesses operating a drive-thru, would be

required to have a reduced minimum rate of how many cars can be lined up at a drive-thru. The rate would drop from eight to six cars.

The purpose is to “relax the development standards that we have in place,” Matt Martin, interim planning and zoning administrator, said.  

Councilman Tim Carroll, District 5, felt the requirement could be less than six because he has seen successful businesses that operate with “only three or four spaces,” he said.

Some council members were concerned about what would happen if an existing business leaves and a new business takes over the building.

“I think it (the supplemental regulation) should be tied to the existing property, not the existing business,” Councilwoman Deidra White, District 2, said.

If a new business wants to open in an existing building, the amendment could allow the applicant to apply for an administration variance at a cost of $100, Martin said.  The main concern council members had was treating businesses fairly, while ensuring that traffic does not extend into the street, creating a safety hazard.

“The bottom line to me is safety,” Councilman Robert Yost, District 6, said. “Keeping cars out of the street.”

The parking regulations state that the vehicles must be “contained on site,” Larry Hanson said.

“It’s hard to find fast food, banks (and pharmaceutical drug stores) that can’t handle six in the circumference of their building,” he said.

Martin will present the council with other options for calculating the minimum parking allowance before they vote at Thursday’s meeting. Existing uses do not apply to this amendment, he said.



SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS FOR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING

• If there is more than 25 parking spaces, there must be two access areas.

• Off-street parking must be 150 feet or less from the service entrance.

• The requirment for “additional frontage” for large apartment complexes would be deleted.



SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS FOR CHURCHES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

• Section deleted.  

“We didn’t see the need for having such standards,” Martin said.



SIGN REGULATIONS

The community’s concerns and ideas have been taken into consideration as the council attempts to improve the LDR.

• Sign standards, administrative variances, banners, special signage types, and more have been reviewed and improved to try to create a fair system.

AS-BUILT DRAWINGS FOR INFRASTRUCTUREIMPROVEMENTS

• Language modified for sewer and water system improvements.



ILLICIT DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STORMWATER REGULATIONS

• Language modified for swimming pool discharges to follow Georgia requirements.



INNER PERIMETER ROAD CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT

• The largest change will be the deletion of the pedestrian-oriented zone.

• The LDR will modify language and restrictions to make them less strict.

• A new corridor map will be drawn out.



URBAN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR OVERLAY DISTRICT

• The LDR will modify language and restrictions to make them less strict.

• A new corridor map will be drawn out. Council members will also consider the following requests during Thursday’s meeting.

• Closure of an alley between Cherry Street and Goolsby Street.

• Request for proposal of a primary-care clinic for city employees and their dependents.

• Contract services to design the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant pump station and force main routing.

• Approval of the Gateway Concept as recommended by The LPA Group, Inc.

• Authorization of repairs at the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• Installation of speed humps on Forrestwood Drive.



The Valdosta City Council will meet and vote at its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9.