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Commission approves downtown special uses, variance and several major contracts including $8.8M pavement award
Summary
The commission approved special-use ordinances allowing a bar/food court at 166 W. Clayton and ground-floor apartments at 458 E. Clayton (with variance); rezoned part of 295 E. Dougherty to government for structured parking (6–3). It also awarded multiple contracts including $8.81M for pavement maintenance and $3.87M for Memorial Park improvements.
Athens‑Clarke County commissioners on March 3 approved several zoning and procurement actions affecting downtown development and infrastructure.
Zoning outcomes: The Commission unanimously approved ordinance #26-03-16 permitting a bar, food truck court and private event space at 166 W. Clayton Street (Union Fare). It also unanimously approved ordinance #26-03-17 allowing ground-floor multifamily residential units at 458 E. Clayton Street and granted a variance to reduce required ground-floor commercial leasable area from 50% to 11%.
A contested rezoning for a portion of 295 E. Dougherty Street (0.92 acres) from C‑D (Commercial‑Downtown) to G (Government) to allow structured parking was adopted 6–3 after one supporter, Buck Bacon, testified; Commissioners Davenport, Link, Wright, Culpepper, Thornton and Hamby voted YES; Commissioners Taylor, Fisher and Johnson voted NO.
Procurements and contracts: The commission awarded the Calendar Year 2026 Pavement Maintenance Project to Pittman Construction Company for $8,808,089.54 (including alternates and contingencies) and approved a $244,468.51 contract to Site Engineering, Inc. for the Athena Drive Headwall Replacement Project (with an $18,000 extra-work contingency). The Memorial Park Improvements Project contract was awarded to Surfaces Group, LLC for $3,865,526, and the county approved a $262,210 professional services supplement with Arcadis US Inc. for stormwater NPDES Phase II permit requirements.
The commission also adopted a resolution requesting Planning Commission review of a Proposed Mall Special District Overlay that would consider transit facilities, affordable housing incentives and flexible redevelopment standards for the Mall Area TAD.
Next steps include finalizing binding site plans and binding written reports for the approved special-use properties and executing awarded contracts and associated documents.
