Conyers council approves multiple zoning text amendments, creates city planning commission and confirms appointments; awards sidewalk contract and adopts tax-"估

Conyers City Council approved a package of ordinances and administrative actions that reorganize planning responsibilities, adopt limited zoning text amendments, confirm appointments, and authorize capital work as part of the council’s March meeting.

Zoning code and planning commission reorganization: The council approved a sequence of text amendments (Ordinances 14-12, 14-13, 14-14, 14-15, 14-16, 14-17 and 14-18) that remove references to the joint Conyers–Rockdale planning commission and establish a Conyers Planning Commission as the city’s planning body. The changes cover appointments and terms, meeting location (City Hall), quorum requirements, definitions and final-plat signature blocks.

Temporary storage container rules: The council approved Ordinance 14-10, a text amendment to allow temporary storage containers for lawfully established businesses in designated zoning districts (BN, MXD, BG, HSB and Gateway Village). The ordinance sets container size limits (up to 40 feet by 9 feet), a permit regime (45 consecutive days with a possible 30-day extension), spacing and placement rules (rear or side yard; not in required parking or circulation aisles), and limits by building square footage (e.g., one container for businesses up to 5,000 sq ft; larger stores may apply for more containers). Staff and the planning commission recommended approval; the planning commission’s vote was unanimous and no public speakers registered opposition.

Sidewalk contract and procurement: The council awarded a competitively bid contract for the South Main Street sidewalk project to Backbone Infrastructure LLC in the amount of $1,107,976, with an eight-month completion term from notice to proceed. Staff said four bids were received, Backbone was the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, and additional coordination and financial agreements with the railroad will be required before full construction begins.

Alcohol license and estimated rollback rate: The council approved a new on-premises beer/wine/liquor license for a new restaurant (Cayuse Restaurant Bar and Grill, 1910 Highway 20 SE, suite 170–190). One council member was recorded as absent for that vote. The council also adopted Resolution 7-53, establishing an estimated rollback millage rate for 2025 to comply with HB 581 (the state requirement to publish an estimated rollback rate on assessment notices). Staff noted the figure is an estimate because the final digest will not be available until late June.

Appointments: The council confirmed multiple advisory and planning appointments: four city designees to the Keep Conyers Rockdale Beautiful advisory council (Anthony Pacheco, Diane Johnson, Nashika “Nikky” Hamm, Kenroy Carney) and five appointees to the newly created Conyers Planning Commission (Al Ford, Joe Smith, Tom Harrison, Tamika White and Howard Baker). Terms and expiration dates were announced from the dais; the planning commission appointees include members who previously served on the joint commission and new members with engineering and architecture backgrounds.

Votes: Most of the ordinance and appointment items the council considered were approved by unanimous voice vote. The temporary storage-container ordinance and the planning commission reorganization items were recommended by staff and the planning commission and carried on council vote. The sidewalk contract was awarded to the low responsive bidder. The city will proceed with permit and railroad coordination work for the sidewalk project.

What this means: The code changes formally end the joint Conyers–Rockdale planning commission relationship in city ordinances and create a stand-alone Conyers Planning Commission. The temporary storage-container rules provide a permitting path for retailers and similar businesses to use intermodal containers on a short-term basis under permit conditions. The awarded sidewalk contract moves a long-discussed pedestrian project toward construction pending railroad approvals and right-of-way coordination.