Planning Commission approves special-use permit and variances for sorority at 480 South Milledge Avenue

The Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a special-use permit and related variances for a sorority at 480 South Milledge Avenue (SUP 2025-07-1361), after hearing a staff report, applicant testimony and neighborhood comments. The commission approved the permit with two conditions required before a certificate of occupancy: (1) a direct sidewalk connection from the easternmost building to the public sidewalk on Milledge Avenue; and (2) a recorded off-site parking agreement providing the required off-site spaces, to be with Clark Central High School or an appropriate substitute as determined by the planning director.

Staff presented the application as a request to demolish the front building and construct a new chapter house with assembly space, reconfigure parking and site renovations. The application included seven variances: increase maximum lot coverage (from 65% to 85.1%); decrease minimum landscaped area (35% to 14%); increase maximum floor‑area ratio within the Milledge Avenue overlay (0.5 to 0.65); reduce required on‑site parking (from 154 to 35 on‑site plus 45 off‑site); eliminate additional screening of the rear parking area adjacent to Clark Central High…