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Council reviews airport‑area rezoning and parking lot plan; staff backs rezoning but recommends denying fence variances
Summary
Council heard staff recommendations to rezone industrial parcels near PDK Airport to an 'airport' future land use to permit a 33‑space commercial parking lot serving a fixed‑base operator; staff supported rezoning but recommended denial of concurrent variances for fence height and chain‑link fence due to lack of hardship.
Planning staff presented a package of airport‑related zoning items March 12, including a future‑land‑use amendment to designate several parcels as 'airport' and a related request to rezone two adjacent lots to allow a commercial parking lot to serve a fixed‑base operator at PDK Airport.
Staff explained the airport character area policies, said adjoining parcels already carry airport‑related uses, and found the proposed commercial land use designation compatible with surrounding properties. "Based on staff's analysis, we find that the proposed future development map amendment is consistent with both the intent and policies of the comprehensive development plan," planning staff said.
For the rezoning and two concurrent variances, staff recommended approval of the zoning map amendment but recommended denial of the fence variances (height increase from 4 to 6 feet in a front yard and allowing chain‑link fence in the front yard), saying the UDO did not show site constraints that rose to the level of hardship required to grant the requested variances.
Applicant representatives, including Matthew Park and Ron Lynch, told council the parking lot will primarily serve employees of the fixed‑base operator and that they intend to install a compliant street‑facing fence rather than chain link. Lynch said the parking lot will help a constrained airport area with existing parking circulation challenges. Council members asked clarifying questions about gate access and whether the lot is intended for long‑term parking; presenters said it would be primarily employee parking though occasional client parking is possible.
No final rezoning vote was recorded at the work session; staff noted the rezoning and design details will return to the appropriate council docket for formal action. Council also heard related items earlier in the docket — a dumpster location variance at 2800 Northeast Expressway and a sign variance request for an emergency veterinary facility at 1700 Century Circle — for which staff recommended approval with specified conditions.
