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Council approves Trinity Valley Community College Specific Use Permit and stadium site despite neighbor concerns
Summary
The Athens City Council approved a final-reading ordinance granting Trinity Valley Community College a Specific Use Permit for multiple lots — including a designated softball field on Central Park Lots 1 and 2 — after staff presented site and lighting plans and residents raised sewer and location concerns.
The Athens City Council on Sept. 8 approved the final reading of an ordinance granting a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to Trinity Valley Community College to allow "college or university" use on multiple lots in the Athens Original Town, Central Park Subdivision and College View Addition. Councilmembers voted 5–0.
City Manager Elizabeth Borstad presented the ordinance, noting that Planning and Zoning recommended approval with stipulations: (1) a detailed site plan must be presented to Council, (2) a lighting array will be installed at property boundaries to mitigate spillover, and (3) the SUP revision procedure required by code must be followed for any future changes. Borstad said staff received a site plan from Frentress Engineering and a detailed lighting plan. As described in the SUP attachment, the proposal includes a softball playing field with bleachers and required parking; "This field shall be solely used for the Trinity Valley Community College softball program," Borstad said during the presentation.
During public comment, nearby resident Roxie Jackson (700 Park Place Dr.) urged the Council to table the item, saying the softball stadium plans raise concerns with the location of a sewer line and asked for further discussion. Resident Tres Winn (602 Lantana) and Stephanie Gade (205 Reierson Ave.) spoke in support of the college project; Gade emphasized TVCC's long history in the community and its contribution to workforce and educational outcomes. Anne Perryman (111 LaRue St.) opposed the stadium location and suggested an alternate site south of the men's gym that would reduce impacts on residential neighbors.
After discussion, Councilmember SyTanna Freeman moved and Councilmember Bryan Barker seconded approval of the final-reading ordinance granting the SUP, and the motion carried 5–0. The ordinance and its attachments include the P&Z stipulations; staff will require compliance with the submitted site plan and lighting plan and will enforce SUP revision procedures before any significant modification to the site.
Next steps: Development Services will monitor compliance with the SUP conditions and ensure that any structural changes or enlargement of use return to Council for an amendment to the SUP as required under Section 5 of the ordinance.
