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Council approves rezoning at 394 Broad Street; annexation and mobile‑home dealership at 2747 North Columbia tabled after traffic concerns
Summary
Council approved rezoning of 0.94 acres at 394 Broad Street to single‑family residential but tabled a request to annex ~1.56 acres for a mobile‑home dealership at 2747 North Columbia Street after residents and the planning commission raised traffic, access and buffer concerns and asked for an independent traffic impact study.
At a June 9 public hearing the Milledgeville City Council approved Ordinance O-2603-12 to rezone approximately 0.94 acres at 394 Broad Street from Office Institutional (OI) to Single Family Residential 1 (SFR1). Zoning administrator Mr. Barneswell reported the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4–0 to recommend approval. Applicant Dr. Terry Willie said she is restoring the house and requested residential zoning; no one spoke in opposition, and the council voted to adopt the ordinance by roll call.
Later in the evening the council took up Ordinance O-2604-13, a petition to annex roughly 1.56 acres at 2747 North Columbia Street into the city and zone it HC (Heavy Commercial) for use as a manufactured‑home dealership. Applicant Brian Gillis, general manager for Georgia Home Center, said the site had previously functioned as a mobile‑home dealership and that annexation would allow access to city utilities and a proposed driveway design to Longleaf/Longleaf Trail to smooth traffic flow.
Residents opposed the annexation. Chris Medilli and other speakers said they had gathered a 162‑signature petition and asked the council to pause the hearing pending an independent traffic impact study (TIS), a binding site plan showing required buffers and stormwater accommodations, and review under O.C.G.A. §36‑36‑11. Neighbors said Longleaf Trail and other nearby local roads were not designed for heavy commercial deliveries and that heavy trucks and setup equipment have previously torn up pavement and utilities along the route.
Council members questioned whether the property could gain access from U.S. 441/North Columbia Street and noted the applicant had previously submitted a site plan and driveway design to DOT. Planning staff advised that a deceleration lane and DOT approval would be needed for a 441 access point and that the current frontage likely lacks required footage for such a lane.
After extended public comment and council questions, a majority moved to table the annexation to allow staff and the city attorney time to consult with the applicant and DOT and to identify conditions the council could require (for example, a requirement that the applicant pay for paving or improvements to Longleaf Trail if that is needed for commercial access). The council voted to table Ordinance O-2604-13.
What changed: The council approved the 394 Broad Street rezoning (no opposition on the record) and deferred decision on the larger and contested annexation so staff and council can request additional traffic analysis, engineering drawings and specific mitigation conditions before reconsideration.
