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Council approves annexation and HC rezoning at 2747 North Columbia Street with driveway stipulations
Summary
After a staff presentation and neighborhood concern, the council adopted Ordinance O-2604-13 to annex and rezone about 1.56 acres at 2747 North Columbia Street to heavy commercial, adding minimum driveway requirements (50-ft width, 35-ft radius); the motion passed following an abstention and the mayor’s tie-breaking vote.
The Milledgeville City Council adopted Ordinance O-2604-13 to annex approximately 1.56 acres at 2747 North Columbia Street (Baldwin County tax map 085 parcel 045) into the city and rezone the parcel to HC (heavy commercial).
City public-works staff reported an onsite assessment (June 11) and recommended that a commercial-grade driveway apron be built to meet the City land development code (Articles 7 and 8). Staff described an impromptu traffic count that observed roughly 25–30 vehicles passing Longleaf Trail during a one-hour midday observation and said that planning and design factors could require wider driveway widths and larger turning radii for commercial equipment.
Council members asked whether the council should add stipulations to the ordinance requiring specific driveway dimensions and turning radius as conditions of annexation; staff recommended a minimum 50–60-foot driveway width and a minimum 35-foot turning radius for this use while noting the code minimums are 30 feet and a 19-foot radius in some sections. “We recommended between 40 and 50 to be 6 in in depth for commercial grade,” staff said, and later clarified the professional recommendation of a 50‑ft minimum width and 35‑ft minimum radius for turning.
During debate, neighborhood opposition was referenced (council members said a petition of roughly 150 signatures had been submitted earlier in the process), and members asked whether updated staff findings had been communicated to residents since the public hearing closed. City staff and the mayor noted the public hearing had concluded and that planning and zoning had already reviewed the matter.
A motion to adopt the ordinance with stipulations requiring a 50‑ft minimum driveway width and a 35‑ft minimum radius was made and seconded. The roll-call vote recorded three ayes, two no votes and one abstention (Dr. Wells abstained because of a personal connection to one of the owners). With the tie unresolved by the council, the mayor exercised a tie-breaking vote in favor of adoption.
Next steps: The approval carries the stipulations into the ordinance text; final driveway design will still require plan review and on-site inspection by public works and permitting staff prior to construction.
