Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

of our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, great. I'd like to welcome everyone this evening to the uh first planning commission meeting for February. Gonna go ahead and start right off. Uh any announcements this evening? No, sir. Not at this time. Okay. Do we have any pre?

Perfect. So, no announcements. I see we have no presentations. Um any agenda changes? Sounds like it may be on now. Am I on now? There we go. Perfect.

Okay. So, uh, no agenda changes. So, the approval of the minutes um from the January 26th, 2026 meeting, you've all, uh, had those submitted. Um any errors or omissions to the minutes as presented? No. Okay. That being said, do we have a motion to approve the minutes as submitted? I'd like to make a motion that we approve the January 26, 2026 minutes. Approved as submitted. Okay. So, we have a motion to approve as submitted. Do we have a second? Second.

Okay. We have a motion to approve and a second. Any other discussion? No. Okay. All those in favor of approving the January 26th, 2026 planning commission meeting minutes as submitted signify by saying I. I. Okay.

Minutes approved. As submitted. Okay. I'm sorry. Uh any old agenda items? Doesn't look like we have any no new agenda items, so we're rolling right along this evening. Um so we do have Yeah, we do have two public hearings this evening. Um, first is going to be consideration of a text amendment to the parking ordinance section 909 um, off- streetet automobile parking. And I'm going to turn that over to staff. It's okay. Your packet. Um, we'll go the parking first. Okay. Okay. All righty.

I was just looking at what's on the screen. So, understood. It's okay. Okay. So, we currently have language that we've placed before you in the packet. Um, you'll see that inside of the staff report is very similar to what we've identified and spoke of um during the conversation um we had last. We have um proposed I guess we had conversation where there'll be um I guess up to five standard parking spaces will give us five golf cart parking um and I think if I'm not mistaken we let's see the power.

So what I I guess one one point I I should have started that off with the public hearing and I apologize. So let's let's actually back it up and do it as we should. Um and I apologize. So, um, since they are public hearings, let me go ahead and do that first. Um, so I'm going to read the public hearing procedure. So, when the public hearing is open, members of the planning commission will become hearers. No action for their part is in order until the chairperson declares the hearing complete. The chairperson will allow each side equal opportunity to the floor. Individual members of the public will be given up to five minutes to state their case. First, city staff will present in the request and provide an assessment of compliance with city code. Next, those supporting the issue will be heard, which includes the applicant. Then, those opposing opposing the issue will be heard. Prior to closing the public hearing input portion of the meeting, city staff and the public will be given the opportunity to ask questions of either or both sides of the issue. When the chairperson is assured that the input is complete, the public hearing shall be ended and the planning commission may then debate the issue and render a decision. All speakers from the public are asked to follow these rules. One, come to the microphone and state your name and neighborhood prior to making remarks. Two, keep remarks under five minutes. And please do not repeat others comments. And three, address all comments to the chairperson. Thank you. Now, I will go ahead and turn it back over to staff. I apologize. No, my apologies. Thank you for that. So, again, we um mentioned this during our last meeting. We spoke in regards to how the golf cart parking would align to, um the current zoning requirements. And so, um it was recommended to have the five standard parking replace five uh golf cart parking as a suggestive way of doing that. you'll see that the attached um code is redlinined to give you more

in depth as to what was um amended. So, if you go to pages, I believe that to be pages 4 through 8, gives you more in depth of what's changed since we've last spoken u of that packet. And so, you'll see that um we spoke about the parking width. I did confirm that um that's one area that we'll need to look a little further into. Um, I will be reaching out to one of our golf cart businesses to kind of give me a little bit more help with that measurement and alignment so that we won't over or undermeasure there. Um, so I will say I know it's open for public hearing tonight, but I think staff is still in a preliminary phase particularly for the parking component because we're just need still needing a little bit more time to to understand how this new code is um going to be regulated for us as there is no other city who has this parking requirement. So, we're figuring out as we go. Um, so, um, again, so the next item, um, of course, we're ensuring that it has it's meeting the, um, ADA requirements as well. I think that was mentioned at the last meeting. Um, again, it's mentioning parallel parking and things of that nature. So, that's what we were doing for the, um, golf cart parking and confirming measurements for that. Next, we looked at the parking requirements for each slab. um for each use, I mean. And so Laura and I are still thinking that we need to spend a little bit more time there. Um one thing that we decided that we wanted to do was um have conversations with other cities that have done such with their parking. Um I think we're still in kind of a um place where we're not certain as to what parking requirements how they've changed with the different uses. Um Commissioner Havner, I'm sorry, Hson, I cannot say your name. I apologize. You mentioned to me that the um I guess what is it? The market that

you're in, you've identified that parking has changed there as well. So, we're just needing a little bit more time to to figure that piece out for parking. Um we're we're not 100% certain there as of yet. So, this one is still kind of in the air. Um asking for us to get just a little bit more time on that um for that parking table as well. And that's pretty much where we are is still trying to do reviews on that, but opening it up for more discussion so that you can tell us as to whether um this direction that you're seeing in red line is um going in a direction that you desire. And again, you see the bicycle parking that was not in there um before either in 909.8, but we've added that to ensure that there's parking racks for parking. that was something suggested but it wasn't listed in this attachment as it is now. So just wanted to see your thoughts here on the red line to see are we going in the right direction so that we can bring you something a little bit more solid during our next meeting.

Okay. So I guess a a question then um before we get into any further further discussion to make sure we're all on on the same page. So, since this is in for a a public hearing, typically we would go ahead and give a recommendation as to city council as to whether or not it's it's approved or or denied. Um, so with their the extra work that still needs to be accomplished as you're saying, um, I guess my question would be what would be the best course of action in that regard?

So, you may recall, um, a past text amendment, we've had it at a public hearing phase. We've allowed for public hearing. Um, we've as far as staff or if planning commission has asked for there to be a deferment of more time, you can still allow for there to be more time, you can defer it. You the public hearing still stands because as long as we open the floor for public comments, you we've had the public comments. I just want to make sure we're we're all good with that. Yeah, of course. Yes. And you can open it back up for public hearing again once you if you would like to. Okay. Okay. Okay. Great. Okay. So, that's where we are. We're just asking for a little bit more time for deferment onto the next meeting.

Okay. So, let's go ahead and uh like I said, since this is a uh public hearing, um do we have anyone in attendance who would like to step up and uh speak for the supporting issue? If you please come up to the microphone and state your name and uh your neighborhood.

Good evening, planning commission. My name is Keith Larson. I live in Sandown Creek, Beachree City. have been a longtime pedestrian and bicycle advocate and working on these very issues. And Kenneth, you recall our work on the West Village overlay where we updated language for bicycle and cart parking. So I want to address this. This is a doable problem and I have offered to the city staff my services as a city resident. no charge. I do everything for free and I want to help make Peach Tree City the best place to live for microobility and there are community standards across the nation for both bicycle parking and cart parking. First of all, I want the the topic cart parking. Peach Tree City changed our ordinances for operations of motorized carts over 10 years ago. It's no longer golf cart parking because a golf cart according to the Georgia code only resides on a golf course when it leaves and operates in your city, our city. It's a motorized cart or a personal transport vehicle. So, we should update that term of reference. We've grown up using golf cart because we got a lot of them. They're converted club cars or whatever, but that's what the real term is. Um, so last year anticipating this and the requirements for the UDO while I was on the tag, we developed a cart parking scheme, the size, the width, the length based on the current models of motorized carts and low-speed vehicles operating in our city today. If you ever go out front of city hall,

there's some spaces marked and many times those multi-passenger vehicles exceed the length of the lines and you can see it all over. So we have that. Not only that, we reached out to the US Access Board and developed for the first community in the nation an ADA accessible parking space for a cart. We have those templates available and and Kenneth, I've shared those with you before. So I think we need to just we just need to cross communicate here because I think we got some some blockages here or we just where the where the dots are. Okay. So that's enough for carts. Uh but I I but we do have stuff available. I have studied and got the database on where these things are today because that was some of your questions last meeting. So today we have the West Village overlay. We have Lexington Village. We have um Cross Town Brilland. And we also have the new 54 West developments which have large stipulated cart and bicycle parking requirements. Now, they're not uniform and especially for implementation. For example, the West Village when when we were looking at the two years ago the West Village document to update, I provided data to the planning council that we were running only about 10% compliance as far as the the when permits were pulled for building construction or renovation that cart spaces or and or bicycle racks were installed. The worst case in point was the rebuild of the Walmart after it burned. They did a great job for EV, electric vehicles, and carts, but they didn't install a single bike rack. And

right next to it, Camden Village, they don't even have enough racks for their apartments to store all the bikes that they have in their apartment multiuse family uh residency. So when we talk about bicycle parking, I think we need to talk about two types. There's short-term parking when people go to a destination for shopping, recreation, school, etc. And long-term parking we might talk about, and this is a common term for commercial businesses like employees. So, they're commuting to work and it would be a sheltered uh, you know, offering that would shield the bikes from the weather. That's just, you know, that's what other communities are doing in in in terms of bicycle parking. There's also the essentials of bike parking, the racks to use and the racks not to use. Now, we gave a citation of this in the West Village overlay, but this would be something if we put citations of standards that we'd expect to be implemented in Peach Tree City for best practices, this could be something that could be cited and then provided when permits are requested or design specifications from the planning office. for your time.

So, um, so that's all of that and so I look forward to this discussion in our community to develop because we can do better. There are standards available and I can provide those to the city staff both for formbbased because that's what we do. We do form based uh zoning and development. So, we can do that. Thank you.

I appreciate that. Thank you. And and I know that when we were looking at the the 54 West, I know you did provide a lot of information and one of the things that came up and and I know we we talked about it at the time was hoping to incorporate more of that into the UDO that would cover the entire city um and not just specific overlay districts. So, um, you know, that's something definitely we can we can still take take in consideration, but um I I think I think uh my sure I got anything else. So, any uh No, I I appreciate it. Yep.

Yeah. Yeah. And so the other thing that I what I really think is we we need because our city is moving into the redevelopment phase that we need to have language that triggers legacy properties to consider or incorporate these standards. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Can I just add on real quick? Absolutely.

Yeah. Mr. Larson, just to confirm, you did send obviously some uh materials in the past uh directed towards the unified development ordinance steering committee. uh you sent uh just to give everybody some context in terms of what was specifically sent for that uh back in let me pull up the date right here April 14th 2025 so we're going on about a year ago but we still got it uh a zoning uh uh update to appendix A on this and I'm not going to I'm not going to go through every single detail but the general gist of it is about assign uh updating at a city level uh a minimum of one parking space for each residential unit within a development. Uh and then it goes into detail in terms of the size of that vehicular parking space uh 9 ft by 18 ft. And then also additionally, this is important for what we're talking about right now, a recommendation for golf cart parking spaces shall measure no less than six feet by 10 feet is what you had sent in the past. And then there was another component as well about uh what you had sent about electrical charging stations which again I know we'll is not the topic for right now but we'll talk about it more in the UDO right

but just for everybody's reference on that there is some uh

uh re the recommendations in terms of uh the way how charging stations should be set up but also locations for golf cart park and and the way that it would also work with golf cart parking and uh having a potential stations around those areas as well. Yeah, I I remember we we touched on those back then and like I said, I I remember it was thought of, you know, maybe the UDO would would be the best vehicle to go ahead and we knew the transportation, you know, group also was was working on some things and trying to pull that all together. So, I think we're getting to the point where things are starting to mesh a bit or going to mesh a bit. So, it's about what we expected. So, that's good. Well, let's go ahead and uh do we have anyone opposing the issue? Want to make sure. Okay, we have no one opposing the issue. Um other than that, I'm going to go ahead and close the public comment period. Okay, so now I'm going to go ahead and open it up to the commissioners to go ahead and uh ask questions of staff or if uh Mr. Mr. Larson would like to go ahead and and answer any questions too. That is definitely uh experienced in that area. So, Mr. Again, any

no question. Just I want to thank Mr. Larson for coming and volunteering his time and his expertise. Thank you very much.

I have a question of staff and and I guess the board also the council. Um, we discussed this, the parking, the golf cart spots, the number of, and we came up with five. And I don't know why, when I was reading through this over the weekend, I wondered if it wouldn't be easier to be a percentage of spaces based on because why have five if you've got 5,000 car spots? You should probably have more. And why have five if you only have seven car spots? So I was just thinking we had not discussed that last time. As far as the bicycles go, I think it's fantastic idea. I living in DC for seven and a half years. Bikes, the not the mopeds, but the scooters. They were I used them all the time and it was great to be have place to put them when I got to work or got back to the apartment. So, I've never heard anybody speak so eloquently on the topic, but I totally agree with everything you said.

I appreciate it. Yeah, we again, those were some of the things that that came up. We really I mean, for the first time, we really started talking about those. I mean, I know several of the commissioners, like I said, when we were reviewing the 54 West, um, and those were exactly some of the same questions was, you know, especially coming to bicycles because we really had thought of that and until it was kind of brought up and it's like, okay, well, great, we could put a bicycle rack u, but then it came to what what type of bicycle rack and you know, the bicycle racks that we had in some of the places, well, those aren't really the best. So, what are some some good ones? and then ones that actually look good um and and are functional, you know, uh and then the question did come up as to well what about storage, you know, especially in certain areas. So, we we've touched on those items, uh but never really, like I said, got into any really good detail in trying to put something together in an ordinance so far. So,

yeah. Can I speak to the storage piece? Sure. in Europe and in DC, uh, storage space. What they do is they've got these very large boxes about the width of that right there, tall enough for any bike to go in and deep enough for any bike. And you get a code and there's like 20 spots to slide a bicycle in and then lock it back up. You have the code to get in and out. That's an option we could look into. Perfect. Thanks, Commissioner Chris. Uh, so I mean, I have some comments. I don't have any questions. Okay. Well, let's roll with the questions and then we'll come back again. Sounds good. Sounds good. Commissioner Halverson, any questions?

No. No. Okay. Commissioner Hammer.

Yes. I have a question for you, Mr. Larson. So, obviously, you are an expert in this area. You know, you put a ton of time uh and and volunteered yourself a lot to uh really just you know anything transportation related in the city. I guess my question to you is you know given what you've seen so far that we've talked about as a group uh with this uh uh amendment and regarding parking and things like that. What do you think are the strengths that we're talking about right now? And if and what uh constructive feedback would you have in terms of uh what we're discussing right now in terms of the details? Well, the first the strength is you're having the conversation and and the first step of any 12step process is you got to recognize you got a problem. and and I see frequently even in front of city hall um kids throwing their bikes all over the place these especially these new emot and and looking at how microobility has changed over the last 10 years with electric motors powers battery storage people are scooting around on all kinds of things on wheels to get to to their destinations and so I mean from a public safety and appearance, quality of life perspective. Nobody wants to walk across the avenue shopping or some other plaza and trip over a scooter. Nobody wants to and it's unsafe. And um so the good approach from a community from stewardship is to have a common means frequently available for people to secure their ride at their destination point and return. And interesting from an economic perspective, those locations and there are studies that show that development shopping that has these has

a higher gross rate of return from frequency of visitors etc because people find it convenient to go. You know, we people complain about cars and traffic 5474 being the but you can avoid all that by going on our pass system because we've been able to push it out so far. You can get to almost every corner of the city now by alternate means. And that's that's a tremendous offload of traffic. Probably at least 10% of the of the destination trips made in Peach Tree City today are by alternate means. And that's a great thing for us and and a great way to stimulate local businesses as well because the people instead of jumping in the car and driving to Kueta County to go shopping or Favville, they're shopping local. So we want I think we want to encourage that. So it's about grappling with the change of technology terms like for example shifting from golf cart to motorized cart and low speed vehicle. We embrace how people are doing it now. What are they driving? And so they feel included in the conversation and also for developers and property owners, they recognize, you know, what our residents need. So I and in in on bicycle parking, you're going in the right direction. We have to address both short-term, i.e. just destination trip, shopping, recreation, going to school, and long-term, i.e. commuters. people are commuting to work and staying a long time in phrase. So, or they're they're they reside in multifamily developments like apartments and apartment rules say they can't store in their apartments and that's a real factor because there's been a problem with lithium batteries burning, you know, and that actually

there's a um consumer product safety commission ruling for some of those manufacturers on that. So, yeah. So, we want to we want to help our property owners both commercial and private succeed. Thank you. Thank you.

So I I going to pose the question to staff and and like I said, you can see and hear that we've touched on this, you know, for for the last few years. Um would we be able to go ahead is it okay if we go ahead and have Mr. Larson provide the information over? Um I know he's been on the transportation advisory group. Um, I don't know if you're still on that or not. Okay. I know you had been in the past. Um, I know we have copies of it, but it would probably be good to have staff have his information also if you don't already. Sure, you can share information.

I I think that would be good because I I think twofold. One again to take a look at this and and maybe we need to do and and take a look at changing terminology. Maybe golf cart isn't the right term to use anymore, even though we have golf cart tags and signs sitting right out in front of city hall. Um, but maybe it is time to go ahead and change as we work through not only this, but also the UDO and and things like that. Let's bring it up to the current standards. Um, so I I think it may be maybe a good opportunity to get that information over um and and take a look at it because I know we touched on it back then was the the ADA compliance and how parking spots that are set up right now for golf carts are not ADA compliant. Uh, you know, we've seen major changes in our our paths um that are being basically rebuilt um bringing them to ADA standards now. So, I think it's important that we all take a look at that. Um, and I'm sure there's a few other locations that we probably need to to consider that, not just of course parking, but it's in some other terminologies throughout throughout the ordinances. So, I think it's probably good. So, if you're able to go ahead and and provide that information um to to all of us, that would be great. And we can take that and and see what we can do to incorporate some of that. Um, it'd be perfect. I think it's probably a perfect opportunity to to start touching on some of that then.

Yes, I I'd be happy to do that. Uh, chair and if you have any other questions, I'm listening. I'll be happy to try to address those questions as well. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much. Okay. So, I'm going to go ahead and uh Commissioner Hamner comments. Mr. Larson, thank you for coming out tonight and offering your expertise on all this. It's really helpful. Commissioner Halerson comments. No comments, Commissioner Chris.

Okay, so uh I have a few different things I want to talk about. Um first and foremost, uh I think Commissioner Allen's suggestion of looking into percentages versus actual numbers is a good one because we have many different sizes of commercial spaces here in Peach Tree City. So, you know, I I shop very often at the Kedran Kroger and they have eight golf cart parking spots and that's not enough sometimes. So, I think that's excellent. What I'd love to see maybe from staff if possible is, you know, what's the average number of spaces uh that we have at our all of our commercial properties in the city because that might help us determine what a appropriate percentage would be because I think we could throw out percentages today, but it might not it might not be helpful to just without any data behind the reasoning. Does that make sense what I'm asking?

I'm a little confused. I'm sorry. So, I'd love to know like of all the properties uh commercial properties here in Peach Tree City, what is the average number of parking spaces that's required for them? The use is your parking is based on uses. So, the uses vary. So, we wouldn't be able to calculate it that way because you may have commercial in some but then office all sharing parking. So we would have to indiv it just would be lengthy which means it wouldn't be something I can have for you at the very next

year. I think I understand. Yeah. Okay. Because you know if I say 5% I mean I know some of the the the plans that we've looked at have only had something like 30 spaces. They wouldn't be able to do

so 5% wouldn't really be great. So my suggestion would be have a a a minimum. you know, you're allowed to do five but up to maybe you say up to 10%. Something like that. A minimum of five spaces you're allowed to substitute but a maximum of up to 10% of the spaces. That would be my suggestion then without knowing what that average number is throughout the city. I think that might address the the concern there. I think it's a good one. Um, the second thing I think is important that we should talk about, and I'm interested in my fellow commissioner's opinions on this, is that, um, do we want to separate the bicycle parking issue from the rest of this? Uh, and the reason I asked that is because the way I read the wordage that's in here now is not that it actually requires bicycle parking, is that it just allows it. Do do you agree with that staff?

And so, you know, I think when I hear some of the comments up in the DIS here today, I I I think I'm hearing uh you know, folks being supportive of an actual requirement um when there's either development or redevelopment. And I think that's that may that may that may have more uh that would be more controversial than golf cart working. And so I I think I think at least in my opinion and once again I'm interested in Well, I I thought during our last meeting that we did request it to be separated. Yeah. Yeah, I thought so, too. I was surprised when I saw it in here. I thought it just got overridden, but I thought we did request to have the bicycle parking removed from this and given its own home. So, that request came directly from city council

to keep it in here to have it in there. Okay. So, that was a request we received from council. So, that's why it's in there. I mean, so we could go forward with this, but I think you know what from what I'm hearing, I would rather see language that requires bicycle parking for commercial new commercial developments and for any redevelopment of that of commercial space or you know, so require bicycle parking but allow for a golf cart to be substituted. Yeah. Meaning they could decide if they want to add but not required.

Correct. That's correct. Yeah, it's Yeah, it's not required. I I think it will still be as as I imagine it, it will still be something that we would consider as a commission when someone comes forward to us and we might ask why they haven't provided golf cart parking. At least I know I would. But um but but yeah, I think it I think a mandatory golf cart parking doesn't exactly make sense because not every property, at least not every commercial property that we see coming before us is well connected to the paths. Um so I don't think it makes sense to have it mandatory. However, I I do think it may be helpful to have bicycle parking as mandatory. Yeah.

Well, I and you know what we can do? I mean, if if we're kind of bound to keep it as part of this, I mean, we can definitely expand on section 909.8 U and add quite a bit more because right now all it says is bicycle parking shall be provided only at a designated bicycle rack. So, we can definitely expand that out to bicycle parking and storage um and then have a subsection under parking, have a subsection for storage. However, we want to go ahead and kind of roll out those those requirements if we're not able to keep it as a separate item. Would that be in this section or a separate section? Well, right now we're kind of hands are tied being told that it it needs to stay in here.

So, we would have to keep it in here, but then again expand on exactly what is I mean we could change it instead of just bicycle parking. be bicycle parking and storage or it could be section 909.9 which would be bicycle storage and 908 would be bicycle parking. Whatever makes the most sense. So we would do that at a later date. We would push this. We'd recommend this to well if we have any recommendations now would be the time to go ahead and do it. I mean we're going to go ahead and and defer it because there's more work that needs to be done on it. I see.

But if we have recommendations um you know we can make some and then once you know Mr. Larson goes ahead and gives the information also it may come back and then we have some more specifics as to some of the things that are coming from you know either other loces or other you know jurisdictions where they have this and it's been successful. So I don't think we have all the information we need but if we do have some some thoughts

as to what we might want to see u now would be the time to go ahead and and make that recommendation. I think the bicycle parking should be a requirement. I think the storage, the large grand storage should be an option because not everybody's going to use it. Uh but I agree that we don't have enough information to sit here and make a recommendation other than that. Sure. Agreed. So, Commissioner Cruz, I was thinking about if I was a developer and try and take advantage of this golf cart parking option. Yeah.

The way you could leverage it is if you didn't have enough landscape um coverage. So you could actually reduce the amount of size of your parking by swapping it out for golf cart parking and then adding landscape back in to get your coverage back in. So I think the more flexibility that we're providing and thinking of other areas of the code actually is great. Yeah. Yeah. Makes sense. That's a good point. Yeah. So the increasing their percentage of option of the golf cart parking from 5 to 10 or even 15 or whatever whatever we think is best um as long as they take advantage of it from a landscape point of view which they theoretically should

would be a good thing. Makes sense. That's a good point. Mr. Allen Mr. Larson, can I borrow you for a second? Absolutely. up here if you come up here for real quick. Okay. Just because I might be speaking, you know, preaching to the choir. Okay. The these or something similar were all over Europe. Yes. And they were at at commuter locations.

Right. Right. And and those are becoming more frequent at uh transit hubs and also long-term storage at uh at rental properties. So, um but I did want to address your your question. uh um about whether we should or should not have mandatory cart parking. Right now, because of the proliferation of our network, we only have a handful of businesses that are isolated on State Route 54 and 74 that are not connected to a neighborhood street where carts are allowed to to operate or a path, only a handful. So, I think that that you might say consider is an exception rule. If you are on a neighborhood street or connected to the path, you shall offer parking. And I think that you know right now the ratio based on the width of the carts would be three carts for every two standard parking spaces for your consideration. So there's your tradeoff right there. And if you have a form base development that is calculating based on the number of employees and visitors

that number can be I'd love to require it but I mean I know how the developers come in front of us and they don't really love that part of the discussion so that's interesting point so um last fall you had or last year you had um uh Jackson Brown bring in 54 West and they voluntarily did that and they're devel developing many of the large uh res uh you know developments in the community in the area and they're lead organization. So they're looking for the microobility connections. Yeah. This is the seven building proposal, right? It's on 54 54 east. Correct.

Yeah. Yeah. I didn't like where they put them but but uh yeah. Yeah. They they they did put a few in. Yeah. Nothing else from Okay. Commissioner again comments. I I I just have some curiosity for to educate myself. I can un I understand pretty well all the discussion about the uh golf cart or other motorized vehicles. But on the bicycle, I'm I'm a little bit cloudy in terms of is there an issue or is there a problem that we're trying to address and what is that issue and problem I think

and how bad the problem is and then or is it just a issue of there's great demand out there. So I'm just trying to understand I think to a certain extent it it is I agree with Mr. marsh and it is if they if we build it they will come. If we build bicycle parking if we build someplace at Harris ter or what is it Trader Joe's where people can park their bikes throw some stuff in their basket and go they will rather than deal with that. It's our desire to stimulate to stimulate and and take care of the neighbors the residents that do ride their bikes.

I mean those electronic bikes are raging all over the place now. I just wouldn't want to require something that there's no and and we really haven't and and it it really surprised me when I when I first moved here and then became a member of the the planning commission that we really didn't have a lot of details and specifics on on golf carts, right?

Um other than the ordinance, well, you have to have them tagged. Um, you know, we have the path system, but when it came to developments, uh, there wasn't a lot of information, which really surprised me because we are a golf cart community or or electric cart, you know, community, but there wasn't really a lot out there. Um, so that really is what kind of spurred when we started looking at things going, well, we need to do something. We don't know what it is yet, but but we need to do something. Um, and we just don't want it really for this location. We would like to have it for the entire city. Um, now each separate location, they may have their own little nuances as to maybe how it's set up and what it looks like. Maybe that's part of the phase two of the UDO to give them a little bit of character, but we really didn't have anything in in place. And the same thing with bicycles.

You might see a bike rack here or there, but there was never really anything set up for that. And again, you go back to the path system and say, well, why why didn't we, you know, why don't we have, you know, the big storage opportunities at Drake Field, um, or at, you know, Battery Way or at something where people can come and and enjoy things and have bicycle parking, whether that's city or whether that goes back to to businesses to do it. We just haven't had anything. So, we're taking steps. It's just kind of baby steps and and we're building as we kind of go along. So again, I I think it's it's important. Yeah, we're having that discussion, which is great. You know, now we need to start putting the details behind it and come up with with something that that makes sense. So, and the more information, like I said, more information we get, the better it's going to be. Um, we're not the only place in the country that has golf carts. Uh, but we're we're the unique place for the most part in in Georgia. Other jurisdictions do have them, but ours are special. But there are other states that have golf carts, other cities and other states that have golf carts. So, you know, what what do they do? What's kind of the standards? And that's what I'm hoping, you know, Mr. Larson will be able to to help provide as we kind of go forward. So,

what does that mean for us? So, yeah, I think that's a good question. So, what what do you need from us at at this point? I mean, we've had a lot of discussion. Um, and there's, you know, I I hate to say it's probably got a little bigger than than what we thought, but it it's one of those where do we go in and make it I don't want to say the best we can, but make it the best we can off off the bat, or at least try to,

or do we go in and say, "Okay, well, here's what we have, and then we'll have another text amendment down the road to add to it, another text amendment down the road." And I I hate piecing things together if we don't have to. I would say staff from staff's perspective, I know I asked for more time, but I think I'm going to need to speak with city leadership first a little bit more to see what direction we're going in with it because I can tell you it's growing bigger than I think we may have expected. I agree. Yeah. And and so I would more than likely talk to the city manager, see which direction, you know, maybe we need another month, if not longer, just to figure out how to track that. Um we have the UDO starting up soon, a different number of projects. Um and it's just the two of us. So, we're we're we're figuring that out. So, I'll speak with the city manager

and figure that out. I I think what what we need from now is just more time. Okay. Um definitely not a meeting this month. If possibly maybe March 23rd as an option, which is a month from from month and a half. Yeah. Yeah. A month and a half. Um just to give it a little bit more time. Um because we would have to study other or organizations and their codes to see how some of that aligns. Um, I know other cities may have golf carts, but they're not inside of their parking code. So, exactly. Those are things we're having to create. It's not a challenge. It's just it's just going to take a little bit more time than a week or two.

And and I think, you know, utilizing the the expertise that we have from from, you know, citizens, the transportation advisory group, uh, you know, whatever, you know, we would be more than happy to to help. I'm sure whatever we can. Yeah. um just based upon our experiences and things that we've talked about over the over the last few years. Um but yeah, I I think we would really like to try to make it the best we can be right from the very beginning for we don't have to come back and and address it a couple times. Absolutely. And I can share it um reach out to the um tag group to see their thoughts and inputs as well. They've played some part in the past of parking. So we'll go from there. Okay, that sounds good. Yep.

Okay. Any other any other discussion? Do do you want to us to agree upon a a percentage as a group so that you have some guidance from us? Sure, that would be great. I I actually really like the 15%. Well, it's optional. So, it's it's giving you a threshold. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Any disagreement with that? Up to 15%. 15% was for which for the pipe the golf cart. The golf cart. Yeah. I'm sorry. For the motorized motorized not always used as golf carts. That's right. Yeah. We should we should standardize that terminology, too. I I I think it's a good time to do that. Yeah. Many race cars. Yeah. Go-karts. But

yeah. So So I think there there's agreement and up to 15%. Okay. Great. Good. I think that's I think that's good. Okay.

Yeah. Again, I think it's important as, you know, as we all see the proliferation of of the ebikes, um, you know, I know there's been been issues and and there will still be issues with them. Um, unfortunately, and you're going to have that no matter what what you have, whether it's a motorized cart or or whatever, or an ebike, but I I do see a lot more. I mean, I've actually considered getting one myself. Um, you know, to be out and and do more hills on the north side of Peach Tree City than than I used to be able to do. Um, so I I I think we're going to see more and more of that going forward, which is which is great. Um, so let's, you know, whatever we can do to take those into consideration. We have two weeks.

Yeah. So I I I think it's I think it's important that that we that we do that. So yeah, I think we're we're a little larger, a little bigger than than what we first envisioned. So and and that's okay. I don't think that's an issue. It's just yeah, we need some additional time and give you all some additional time to to talk to the council and and city manager and then, you know, let us know what what their thoughts are. Also, okay, director Reed, could you do one thing for us as well in your research? Of course.

Can when you're looking at other areas around the country that are parking golf carts, can you do the research on if it's required? In other words, if they have a minimum requirement that's in addition to the standard parking, because what we're talking about today is an option. It's doesn't say a business is required to park X number of golf carts in addition to vehicles, right? So the research we found so far is that when you're looking at parking for golf carts, they're giving dimensions with so forth, they're not getting counts. They're not getting to how much

um that's that's what we're creating that I think I haven't seen as of yet, but we'll keep looking. Um suggestive language that I'm working with a golf cart company now on. They're helping us with a lot of that information

um right now. so that we'll, you know, speak to someone who's familiar with the sizing and things like that. But the count, I will say it makes sense for the 10 to 15%. Um, I just know that the larger the site and I think we'll probably also have to define where they're going to go because if you're going to say 10 to 15% is in one isolated space, that doesn't help. So, we need to kind of identify is that per store, like is it per, you know, every x amount of door uh doorfronts, things of that nature. We need to kind of be creative in that langage. so that it can be you know spread out because if you look at Kedron for example Kedron is a very large development so if you start off with Kroger and if we're requiring it don't require where Target and so forth may not have parking so we mindful of that

and that's a great point because that ties in to to another subject of course which isn't addressed this evening but that was charging stations for EVs and you know we again don't have anything in place for those so you see several throughout the city Um there's no specifics where they're at. Um there's no design requirements for them. There's no anything. Um and that's something again that will need to be addressed at some point in time. But we need to think of things like that. And I think that's a very good good point and thank you for that. Um that we do want to go ahead and take the site

into consideration when we're when we're putting these together. And and remember also, you know, this is going to be just for new development as well as as redevelopment. Um so this will not affect any existing that won't be going through, but we all know as as it's been brought up that we're going to see more redevelopment than than development at least in in the near future. So still have an opportunity to make some some positive changes. Okay. Can I ask a clarifying question? Absolutely. Regarding the percentage uh that you're talking about, is that of the required amount of spaces or percentage of what they're providing?

No. No. The way we envisioned it originally was that it was going to be a substitution of what was required. Yeah. Because some developments actually provide additional. They go above and beyond what what's required sometimes. Right. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So it would be based on what what is actually required per the development ordinance. Correct. That's how we envisioned it. Okay.

You know, one one more thing to to discuss. You know, I know this the city manager is very busy, but um you know, once this goes through, I'd love for the city manager or the city in general to approach existing commercial properties and ask if they're willing to comply with what we have on the books now, right? Or when we when we pass this I if they would be willing to offer some. So, I think that might be an interesting conversation to really spur, you know, the conversation about the utilization of alternate means of transportation to get around the city. You know, we have this wonderful path system. Why do a lot of our commercial spaces not offer golf cart parking? So, and it's not something that's really relevant to what we're talking about today, but I'd love to see more conversation around that.

Good point. Okay. So, we have to go ahead and and make a recommendation. Um, so do we have a recommendation and we're looking to defer it to you want March 23rd? That would be great. Okay. So, do we have a motion to recommend deferral until March 23rd? I so move. Well, can we have a motion? Make a motion to defer to March 23rd. Okay. Okay. Great. So, we have a motion to defer until March 23rd. We have a second. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor of recommending deferral until March 23rd signify by saying I. I.

I. Deferred until March 23rd. Thank you. Okay.

Okay. So, we have our second public hearing. And since it's separate, I will actually read the public hearing procedures again just to make sure everyone is good. Okay. When the public hearing is open, members of the planning commission will become hearers. No action on their part is in order until the chairperson declares the hearing complete. The chairperson will allow each side equal opportunity to the floor. Individual members of the public will be given up to five minutes to state their case. First, city staff will present the request and provide an assessment of compliance with city code. Next, those supporting the issue will be heard, and that includes the applicant. Then, those opposing the issue will be heard. Prior to closing the public hearing input portion of the meeting, city staff and the public will be given the opportunity to ask questions of either or both sides of the issue. When the chairperson is assured that input is complete, the public hearing shall be ended and the planning commission may then debate the issue and render a decision. All speakers from the public are asked to follow these rules. One, come to the microphone and state your name and neighborhood prior to making remarks. Two, keep remarks under five minutes. And please do not repeat others comments. and three, address all comments to the chairperson. Thank you. And I'm going to go ahead and turn that over to staff for the public hearing on the text amend to consider a text amendment to the lighting ordinance, specifically section 731.2 of the land development ordinance.

Yes, sir. So, um, originally, um, during our last discussion, we spoke in detail, um, regarding the language. which I know we had a lot of conversations about the last sentence you're seeing there the same type of light lighting and so forth. Um I received some great assistance in um the language to ensure that you all um your recommendations were being adhered to with this language you're seeing before you now. And so um using the comments from the last meeting and um also kind of sharing it with someone who's helped with that was wondering your thoughts on how that language works for you all.

Okay. So we're going to go ahead and uh open that up. Do we have anyone in the audience in favor of supporting the issue? Good evening.

My name is Keith Larson. Again, I live in Sandal Creek and I'm in favor of this proposed amendment. It makes sense from an appearance. You go into a commercial development area, you would expect uniform lighting of the same color to the resident. The technology that delivers that not an issue. That certainly is important for safety and other concerns and aesthetics, but we do want lighting. So, I think this is a good move forward to get us up to modern technology. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Anyone else in favor? Okay. Anyone oppose? Okay. With that, I declare the public hearing comment portion closed. Okay, I'm going to open it up to the commissioners for any questions. Commissioner Hamner, start to my left. No questions. Commissioner Halverson, any questions? No questions. Commissioner Chris, any questions?

I have a question of our resident expert, Commissioner Halverson. Uh, the last redline sentence here, does that um encapsulate your uh lighting color temperature issue that you brought forth the last because I remember you saying that like similar fixtures in similar purposes. So that's different, right? So you got you can have a bunch of different lighting typologies. In other words, different types of fixtures, but all of them can be set at the same temperature. Okay. So it doesn't as long so it so you're you're satisfied with this. Okay, great. No further questions. Okay, good. Commissioner Allen, any questions?

No, Commissioner Gant. One question of clarification. Is this applied to uh commercial properties? Yes, sir. Commercial and industrial. And industrial. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any other questions? Commissioner Gant, any uh any comments? Commissioner Allen, comments? No comments. Commissioner Chris? No. Commissioner Halverson. Commissioner Hamner, this looks good.

And and I'm just going to echo that. I I think it's good. I like how, you know, it is it is preferred now that we have the LED um instead of not having that. So, I think that's an important and I do like as was discussed and and brought up the consistent colors um trying to keep the color temperatures fall in a consistent fashion so we don't have spectrum of everything every which direction. So, I think that's good. Okay. Um so, seems like we're all in agreement. So, do we have a motion to recommend approval? I'll move to recommend approval for the text amendment to the lighting ordinances spec specifically section 731.2 of land development ordinance.

Okay. So, we have a motion to recommend approval of the text amendment. We have a second. Any other comments or questions? No. Okay. All those in favor of recommending the text amendment signify by saying I. I. I. Text amendment is recommended for approval.

Okay. So, we're completed with the public hearings. Um, any member or staff topics? Not at this time, sir. Okay. I I know you did send out an email concerning the zoning classes.

Um so that that like I said I've I've taken zoning 101. Um it is it is a great class. I I took that uh over the pandemic at that time with our our chairperson uh commissioner Frankdio. Um and even doing it online u was was very good. We actually had some questions that came up um that we actually experienced um on uh basically a recusal of of a commissioner um that had you know a a vested interest I would say in a in a certain property at that time. So, um, you know, we actually used what we learned in in 101, um, part of one of the questions and discussions to go in and have that discussion with them and and they recused themselves from from at least the discussion and the voting which was which was actually good. So, it it is a very good class. Um, so if you have an opportunity to take it, uh, plea please do so. I think there's a couple 101's coming up in

April is one I think we see one in March. There were different um times, right? Um right now the latter ones of I believe four and five are being offered now. Okay. But the um I guess one, two, and three have different dates than we are offering right now or hearing right now. Yeah. And for those who haven't had 101, if you're able to go ahead and and take it, it's good. And like I said, I'm definitely looking, you know, at some point in time to go ahead and look at 102. So, good. Okay. Any other items? Anything from the commissioners? No. Okay. Uh let's see. 20. So, February 23rd.

Um do we have anything in particular that we might want to be aware of at this time? So far, just um just the parking just the parking parking discussion. Okay. That to March. Yes. Mar the first March meeting March 9th will be kind of stacked. Yeah. So there's a number of items for the March 9th, but there is nothing on the schedule for the next meeting on the 23rd. I'm sorry. That's right. We moved out to March 23rd, didn't correct? Okay. So, yes, we don't have anything for February 23rd. Cancel the February 23rd meeting.

Um, we I think the deadline we've already probably already passed for this particular meeting for the 23rd. We like to put items on the agenda by a certain time. So, that if that's the case, then yes, we don't have anything for you at this time. Okay. And we we don't have a UDO or do we do we have anything? You mentioned at the last meeting you wanted to wait until the 9th. That is correct. And we would then have two meetings for the UDO in the month of March. Yes, correct. That is correct. K. Yeah, we're going to get the RFPs back and uh we're going to have some discussions around those. Okay.

Uh I know that we did talk about native plants uh as something that we're going to follow up on. I want to say that we had bumped it that conversation to either the first or second meeting in March. And let me say this, if we want to cancel the second meeting in February, that's fine. But we could move it up if that's a lighter meeting for us and have it the second meeting in February. Um so that way again we again sounds like March is going to be really busy. That would take a load off of March. It's fine. Yeah, it's fine. Everyone everyone good with that? Because I mean I know

I mean right now you're you're of course everyone plans to be here for the 23rd unless we cancel. So So will we be ready for that discussion on the 23rd? So the conversation on the 23rd is going to be a rate like remember we said that we were going to we proposed a whole lot of ideas.

Yeah. My plan is to come to you guys with an overview of all those ideas, at least my take on the pros and cons on those as well and for us to ideally find uh a way for us to move forward on that. And again, I know that there's a suggestion also that is going to be emailed as well uh that I think is really good. I thought about it a few times. I won't spoil it because he'll be able to explain it better than me, but uh it's a good idea, I think. Do we need do we need anyone else from from staff aside? Do we need Mr. Warner? Do we need anyone else to to that extent?

I don't think so. Again, you know, we've had comments from city staff already. Uh that was done over email. Um and we've incorporated those and Okay. Yeah. Okay. Just wanted to make sure because now would be the time to go ahead and if we needed to, but if we don't need to then then that's fine. Yeah, I think we're good. Okay. Good. Okay. I did sounds I did have one question about the RFP process because I read through it again today and tomorrow closes and then there's question and answer. Who's answering the questions? You are. I am. Okay. Because she has free time.

It's in good hands. I just wanted to make sure that at least if you weren't handling it that you were comfortable with who was.

Yes sir. Um the procurement team did mention u we're trying to figure out the scoring component for the group. Um I will say there's been a lot of conversation around it because the city's policy is typically that procurement is silent until being announced by council. So there's a a moment of confidentiality that has to remain. So um and that's just because for the respect of all biders we have to be careful with that. And so, um, I will say that I am in conversation to see how that could work. So, I will reach out as chairperson. I'll reach out to you to give you the insight on that so that for the UDO steering committee, you can inform the group how that will go. Uh, because I want to ensure that we're keeping you involved in the process as the steering committee.

Um, but I just want to figure out how we can ensure that the city's rules and regulations are being met at the same time. Okay. Yeah. Perfect. That sounds good. Okay. Okay. Anything else commissioners? Anything else from staff? Okay, move to adjourn. So we have a motion to adjurnn. Second. We have a sec. Motion to adjurnn and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Meeting adjourned.