Commission defers two city‑initiated text amendments on medical‑institutional zoning and public notice rules

The East Point Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday deferred two separate city‑initiated text amendments that staff said require further drafting and legal review.

The first item, a city‑initiated amendment to Section 10‑20‑71 (medical institutional zoning district classification), was presented as citywide in scope. Director Smith told commissioners staff had “had multiple conversations and discussions” about the intent of the amendment and that “staff at this time is needing more time to go over the draft, to work with the legal department,” and therefore recommended deferral.

There were no public speakers on that item. The commission closed the public hearing and, on a motion accepting staff’s recommendation, voted to defer the amendment.

The second city‑initiated text amendment would revise Section 10‑22‑06 (public notification) to “streamline and provide for a higher level effort to provide outreach and public notice to the broader community,” according to staff. Director Smith again recommended deferral to allow staff time to continue work on the draft.

During discussion on the public‑notification amendment, Commissioner Keisha Chapman (and other commissioners) suggested that the city consider making notification requirements scalable to the scale of the proposal — for example, using a smaller radius for neighborhood‑level cases and a citywide notice for larger, higher‑impact matters. The suggestion was for staff to consider this approach in their revision; commissioners did not adopt a replacement text tonight.

Both items were deferred at the request of staff; the record shows staff will return with revised drafts after legal review and further internal development.

Because both amendments are city‑initiated text changes affecting multiple sections of the zoning code, the commission concluded that further staff and legal work was needed before making a recommendation to City Council.