Planning Commission tables special‑use request that would demolish historic SA Building for 14 parking spaces

The Athens‑Clarke County Planning Commission on Feb. 6 voted to table for 60 days a special‑use permit request from First United Methodist Church to remove a historic “SA Building” in West Downtown and replace it with a 14‑space surface parking lot.

Planning staff told the commission the request was incompatible with the 2023 Comprehensive Plan and the downtown future‑land‑use and design expectations. Staff noted the property sits in the West Downtown local historic district and that the proposed surface parking diverges from the Map’s Main Street/downtown character. The application was filed as part of a mediation settlement; staff noted that the design submitted had incorporated department suggestions but that the proposed surface parking conflicted with the downtown form the comprehensive plan and overlay envision.

More than a dozen members of the public spoke during the hearing, urging denial. Speakers included preservation advocates and local residents who highlighted: the building’s status as a contributing structure in the local historic district and on the National Register, an existing $2 million offer from local preservationists who proposed to rehabilitate the building using tax credit tools, and the community value of preserving a contiguous historic downtown fabric. Several speakers described the building as salvageable and said demolition for just 14 net parking spaces would undermine the integrity of the historic district.

First United Methodist Church’s representative, Brett Thurman, said the church was prepared to answer questions and that the design had been vetted by staff. County attorney Thomas Mitchell noted the mediation settlement and told the commission the mayor and commission had inserted language in the settlement resolution stating the mediated actions should not be construed as precedent for other properties.

Commissioners debated two procedural and substantive concerns. Several members said the property remains in the historic district while the owner’s request to remove it from the district was pending, and they preferred to let the Historic Preservation Commission process play out before deciding the land‑use application. Commissioners also requested clearer documentation from the applicant showing why the church needs eight net additional parking spaces (the plan would demolish a building with six existing spaces and create 14) for non‑Sunday activities and for evidence about downtown parking availability.

By motion, the Planning Commission tabled the special‑use application for 60 days to allow the preservation review to progress and to let staff and the applicant gather additional information about parking demand and alternatives; the motion passed by roll call. One commissioner recused from the vote because of a conflict noted at the meeting.

Public commenters requested that the commission deny the special use and encourage the church to consider selling the property to preservation buyers. The commission’s tabling effectively pauses the demolition request while the historic‑district and mediation matters proceed.