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Athens-Clarke County committee weighs rezoning and preservation tools for four county-owned properties
Summary
Planning staff briefed the property committee on rezoning options (CO, CN, CG), parking constraints, and historic-preservation tools — including deed restrictions and preservation easements — for the Firehall (489 Prince Ave), Taylor Grady House and Town & Gown; staff underscored capital needs and the need for tailored conditions if properties are disposed of.
The Athens-Clarke County property committee on April 28 heard planning staff lay out zoning and preservation options for several county-owned properties along Prince Avenue and on Grady Avenue, including the Firehall at 489 Prince Ave, the Taylor Grady House (634 Prince) and the Town & Gown theater (115 Grady). Bruce of the planning department said the buildings are currently zoned G (government) and that rezoning would be required before property disposition.
"Commercial office is a very gentle kind of commercial zone. It's intended to be something that goes quiet after 5:00 or 6:00 at night," Bruce said, explaining why CO could suit the Firehall’s current office use while CN could allow higher-activity uses such as restaurants or hotels that might harm historic fabric. He noted CO limits retail sales to 2,500 square feet, which roughly matches the Firehall’s footprint and upper-floor layout.
The committee’s discussion centered on trade-offs between protecting historic character and making properties financially viable. Staff described three broad approaches: narrowly craft zoning to favor only the current or compatible uses; allow broader uses that maximize bidder interest; or apply a middle path with lease terms, deed restrictions or easements that preserve character while permitting viable activity.
Amber, who described preservation tools, said local landmark designation controls exterior changes but that preservation easements — typically held by qualified organizations such as the Georgia Trust or Historic Athens — can be tailored to interiors and landscapes and include inspection and enforcement provisions. "Easements...require a qualified entity to agree to hold the easement; they have a right and a duty to report and enforce that," Amber said.
Staff also flagged maintenance and capital needs as a major factor. For Taylor Grady, staff noted an HVAC project scheduled in 2027 with a figure ($175,000) in planning notes, and separate painting/roof items projected later (noted at about $100,000 in discussion). Committee members debated whether the county should retain ownership and tighten lease obligations, or sell with protections in place such as deed restrictions or easements.
On practical constraints, staff emphasized parking and right-of-way issues on Prince Avenue. Melissa (planning) explained on-street parking credit rules (two on-street spaces count as one off-street parking credit) and warned that using the cobblestone right-of-way for parking could create safety problems.
The committee did not vote on rezoning at the meeting. Instead members asked staff to return with a zoning timeline and suggested conditions staff would recommend for rezoning applications, plus options for preservation easements and draft lease terms to protect historic features. Staff also agreed to provide an inventory review and relevant title records to support next steps.
The committee scheduled continued discussion at a future meeting and said it would consider subdivision options (for example, separating Taylor Grady and Town & Gown) as part of follow-up work.
