East Point staff walk residents through rezoning, pre‑application cycle and lot‑split process

City of East Point planning staff explained how rezoning and related land‑use applications move through the municipal process and described lot combination and subdivision requirements during a community engagement event.

Lee Kelly, assistant director of Planning and Community Development, walked attendees through the application cycle, describing required steps: a virtual pre‑application meeting, submission by the monthly deadline (first Friday of each month), a community zoning information meeting, Planning and Zoning Commission hearings (including a public hearing where the commission issues a recommendation), a council work session and then a council public hearing where the mayor and council make final decisions. Kelly noted that planning commission work sessions are virtual, planning commission public hearings and all city council meetings are held in person.

Kelly said variances are decided by the Planning and Zoning Commission and do not advance to city council. He used a hypothetical example of a property owner, Shelly Buckles, who sought to combine two lots on Main Street and rezone them to a "MIX" designation to permit a live‑work development with ground‑floor commercial and residential units above. Staff advised Shelly to obtain a zoning verification letter first, participate in a pre‑application meeting, file the rezoning application by the first Friday deadline and follow the calendar that includes CZIM (community zoning information meeting), two Planning Commission meetings and two city council meetings.

Staff emphasized technical requirements for lot combinations and subdivisions: applicants must hire a licensed surveyor and provide an actual survey (a Fulton County GIS map is not sufficient). Staff said applicants may prepare a combined plat before the rezoning decision for internal use, but should not record that combined plat until after zoning is finalized to avoid creating unintended recorded changes if the rezoning fails.

Kelly explained staff will examine the property's future land‑use designation when evaluating a rezoning request; alignment with the comp plan informs staff recommendations to the Planning Commission and the mayor and council. After an approved rezoning, applicants may submit building permits and proceed with plan review and construction.

This presentation was informational and did not include formal actions or votes. Staff invited questions and encouraged applicants to use the city's submission portal (BSNA portal) and to contact Planning and Community Development for application guidance.