Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning at 230 North Warren despite parking concerns
Summary
The Milledgeville City Council voted 5–1 to rezone 230 North Warren from single‑family to MR‑2 to allow a two‑unit duplex. Owner Renee Butts and contractor representatives said the site plan provides required off‑street parking; neighbors and the district councilmember pressed for enforcement and lease provisions to limit on‑street parking.
The Milledgeville City Council voted 5–1 on Sept. 10 to rezone 230 North Warren Street from single‑family residential to MR‑2 planned multifamily zoning to permit a two‑story duplex.
The applicant, property owner Renee Butts, represented by Tim Thomas of Otis Thomas Construction and contractor Deandre Thomas, told the council the project aims to replace the existing structure with a two‑unit duplex to provide rental income and "improve the quality of the neighborhood." Deandre Thomas said duplexes are permitted in MR zones under the local land development code ("according to article 3, section 3.4, duplexes are permitted by right").
Neighbors and the district councilmember raised parking and safety concerns. During public comment and council questioning, one councilmember who represents the affected district said turning off Montgomery onto North Warren is already congested and described cars parked on both sides of the street near the college, saying drivers sometimes block the roadway and that the situation can impede seniors and emergency access. The district councilmember asked how the project would prevent additional on‑street parking.
Applicant representatives pointed to the site plan's rear parking area and noted the proposal meets the ordinance requirement of two parking spaces per dwelling unit. Tim Thomas said the project "meets that" requirement and acknowledged the limits of design in preventing outside parking, adding that lease provisions and city enforcement would be used to discourage street parking. Owner Renee Butts said she would include lease language limiting parking to the provided spaces.
Council discussion focused on enforcement and control: one council member suggested a city ordinance or resolution to ban on‑street parking on problem blocks and asked police to increase enforcement. Another noted that lease terms may not bind future owners.
The council then moved and seconded approval. Roll call showed Miss Mapp, Mister Chambers, Doctor Lee, Miss Walden and Mister Reynolds voting "Aye"; Miss Schinholster voted "No." The ordinance passed with a 5–1 vote.
The public hearing record showed no organized opposition speakers; planning and zoning had issued a unanimous advisory vote in favor earlier. The council did not attach binding lease conditions to the rezoning; members discussed further municipal steps (signage, enforcement, or an ordinance) to address broader parking patterns in the neighborhood.
