[00:00:01]
YEAH. OKAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS MEETING TO ORDER AT 3:30 P.M.
[I. CALL TO ORDER ]
ON JUNE THE 15TH. AND HELP ME, PAM. WE HAVE A QUORUM, OBVIOUSLY.WHAT IS OUR QUORUM FOR? YOUR QUORUM IS THREE.
IT'S WHAT, THREE? THREE. OKAY. OKAY. SO EASILY A QUORUM.
TODAY WE HAVE FIVE OF US HERE. [INAUDIBLE] SO MINIMUM OF FOUR. BUT THEN I THINK THAT ALSO AFFECTS HOW WE DECIDE THE CASES, RIGHT? IF THERE'S SOME VOTE AND THERE COULD BE THAT REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY OF VOTE, THEN THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THREE.
BUT FOR YOU TO HAVE A QUORUM TO START A MEETING, THAT'S THREE.
OKAY. OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
ANY PUBLIC ITEMS TODAY? DO WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION FOR DEBORAH OR HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF? OH THAT'LL BE THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN CAN I JUST TURN IT OVER TO YOU, LISA?
[IV.1. Commercial Infill Policy and Procedures ]
ALL RIGHT. SO OUR FIRST DISCUSSION ITEM IS COMMERCIAL INFILL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.THAT'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE PRESENTATION BY OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WANTED TO BRING THIS BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT.
HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU MAY REMEMBER WE BROUGHT FORWARD THE RESIDENTIAL INFILL PROGRAM POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND DISCUSS SOME OF THAT WITH YOU SINCE THEN. AND AT THAT TIME, WE WERE LOOKING AT A COMMERCIAL INFILL POLICY TO COMPLEMENT THAT RESIDENTIAL SIDE OF THAT.
JUST AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THIS COMMERCIAL INFILL PROCESS.
SO THE INFILL POLICY IS PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO INCENTIVIZE REVITALIZATION, INCENTIVIZE REVITALIZATION OF UNDERUTILIZED VACANT OR BLIGHTED PROPERTIES, AND TO RESTORE PROPERTIES TO THE TAX ROLL.
SO IN THE POLICY, IT'S GOING TO DEFINE WHAT A QUALIFYING PROJECT IS WHAT A QUALIFYING STRUCTURE IS.
SO THE POLICY ALLOWS FOR SOME SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO INFILL PROPERTIES AND PROJECTS THAT MAY REQUIRE ACTION BY THE COUNCIL OR VARIOUS BOARDS THAT ARE ON THERE. YOU'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THERE.
AND BASED ON THAT AND INPUT FROM SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD COME THROUGH HERE, WE'VE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COMMERCIAL INFILL POLICY THAT BUILDS ON THAT RESIDENTIAL POLICY WITH WITH SPECIFIC TO COMMERCIAL.
SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS KIND OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THAT RESIDENTIAL INFILL POLICY.
OF COURSE, IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE RESIDENTIAL INFILL DEVELOPMENT, REDUCE URBAN SPRAWL, IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD ESTHETICS, AND TO RESTORE PROPERTIES TO THE TAX ROLL.
THERE'S ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT COMES WITH THAT RESIDENTIAL INFILL POLICY.
PROPERTY HAS TO BE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR, HAS TO REPRESENT A MINIMUM OF $50,000 INVESTMENT IN A UNDER-UTILIZED VACANT OR BLIGHTED PROPERTY. AND THE WHEN IT'S COMPLETED, IT COMPLETE COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE CITY CODES AND DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT ARE ALREADY ADOPTED AND RESULT IN A PERMITTED USE UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
THIS IS DONE BY UTILIZING A DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE POLICY.
[00:05:04]
IMPACT FEES FOR A RESIDENTIAL INFILL PROJECT.THIS DOES ALLOW TO REDUCE THAT LOT SIZE DOWN TO 3500FT² BASED ON CONTEXTUAL COMPATIBILITY.
SO IF IT FITS INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, IF YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF 5000 AND 8000FT² LOTS OVER THERE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO DROP A 3500 SQUARE FOOT LOT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
DOES HAVE SOME REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ON THE SETBACKS, VARIANCES AND SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
AND IT HAS A POLICY TO REDUCE THE OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT.
THE ENCLOSED OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENT THAT'S IN THERE.
DOES ALLOW FOR A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR THE APPLICATION AND PERMIT REVIEW AND ISSUANCE, AS WELL AS DESIGN STUDIO CONFERENCES WITH THE STAFF THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. SO THIS PROCESS, THIS POLICY WAS ADOPTED IN JULY OF 2025.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SIX APPROVED APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE.
THESE ARE THE SIX APPLICATIONS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THERE.
SO WENT FORWARD WITH THE COMMERCIAL INFILL POLICY.
SAME THING HAS AN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT OR CRITERIA.
IT DOES HAVE TO RESULT IN SOMETHING THAT COMPLIES WITH APPLICABLE CITY ADOPTED CODES AND ORDINANCES, AND HAS TO ADDRESS A LOT THAT IS CURRENTLY VACANT, UNDERUTILIZED, DETERIORATED, OR CLASSIFIED AS NONCONTRIBUTING TO THE SURROUNDING BUILT ENVIRONMENT. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE QUALIFYING PROJECTS INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO 50% OF APPLICATION PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEES, AND REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO 50% OF THE APPLICABLE IMPACT FEES PER THE QUALIFYING USE THAT ARE ON THERE.
ALSO HAVE THAT STREAMLINED PROCESS THAT'S IN THEIR PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
WE'RE KIND OF LIMITED ON, ON HOW MUCH STREAMLINING WE CAN DO ON PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE A STATE REQUIREMENT TO MEET THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK SO THAT 30 DAY STAYS IN PLACE.
AND THE POLICY ALSO HAS A REPORTING COMPONENT TO IT.
SO WE WILL BE REPORTING TO CITY COUNCIL PROJECTS THAT ARE APPROVED UNDER THIS POLICY.
SO THAT INFORMATION IS ALWAYS OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A TIMELINE FOR PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION.
YOU CAN SEE WE'RE ON JUNE 15TH, WHICH IS TODAY WITH THE BOA.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THIS POLICY, ANY INPUT OR FEEDBACK THAT YOU MIGHT SEE TO ADD INTO THIS. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, WAYNE. SO THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT IS $100,000.
IS THAT FOR THE LAND AND THE BUILDING OR OUTSIDE OF LAND ACQUISITION? OKAY. SO IT'S THE IMPROVEMENT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE.
IT'S THE IMPROVEMENT. YES. OKAY. WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THOSE IMPACT FEES? SO THERE ARE VARIOUS IMPACT FEES THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR HAS ADOPTED.
WE HAVE WATER WASTEWATER AND ROADWAY IMPACT FEES.
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IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT ALREADY HAS ESTABLISHED SERVICES TO THAT, THAT LOCATION, WATER AND WASTEWATER, THERE WOULD BE NO IMPACT FEES UNLESS YOU'RE UPSIZING.SAME THING WITH SEWER. IF BECAUSE THOSE ARE STILL BASED OFF OF YOUR WATER METER SIZE.
AS FAR AS WHAT THE IMPACT FEE IS FOR THAT. BUT IF YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED SERVICES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL WATER OR WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES THAT ARE THERE.
NOW, IF IT'S A COMPLETELY EMPTY LOT THAT'S NEVER HAD A DEVELOPMENT ON IT, AND NOW WE'RE PUTTING SOMETHING THERE AND WE'RE ESTABLISHING WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES AT THAT LOCATION, TAPS FOR THOSE, THEN THOSE IMPACT FEES ARE GOING TO BE APPLICABLE TO THAT PROJECT.
WE ALSO NOW HAVE THE ROADWAY IMPACT FEES, WHICH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT ARE GENERATED BY WHATEVER THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IS IT ON THERE THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED ON THERE, AND THEN WHATEVER THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IS, THERE'S A THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF WHAT THOSE ARE AND WHAT THE IMPACT FEES ARE THAT APPLY TO THAT.
HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THE $25,000 FIGURE? THAT WAS THAT IS RIGHT AT THE AMOUNT OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE POSSIBILITY AT THAT TIME.
THEY'VE COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY OFF THAT. IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 17,000 NOW, IS WHAT A RESIDENTIAL IMPACT FEE PROFILE WOULD LOOK LIKE WATER, WASTEWATER AND ROADWAY. SO. SUFFICIENT WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. IF THERE IS ESTABLISHED WATER AND WASTEWATER AT THE LOCATION ALREADY, THEN UNLESS YOU'RE UPSIZING THAT THAT SERVICE, THEN THEY WOULD NOT APPLY. THESE ARE FOR NEW SERVICES THAT GO INTO PLACE ON THERE.
AND IT'S TO CAPTURE THAT THAT IMPACT ON THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE COMMERCIAL PORTION OF THIS WOULD BE HALF OF THOSE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE IN THERE.
THOSE VARY GREATLY ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, RESIDENTIAL IS NOT QUITE AS, AS, AS VARIED.
AND SO THAT GENERALLY THAT $25,000 HELPS TO, TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACT FEES.
BUT THE COMMERCIAL SIDE IS GOING TO BE QUITE A BIT MORE ON THAT.
DOES THIS MAKE US MORE APPEALING TO COMMERCIAL VENDORS? ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT HAVE THAT HAVE TALKED TO US ABOUT THIS.
ANYTIME WE BRING SOMEONE IN THROUGH OUR DESIGN STUDIO MEETINGS OR OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE MAKE SURE AND WE'RE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT IMPACT FEES.
THOSE CAN BE SOME VERY SURPRISING NUMBERS WHENEVER YOU GET TO THE BACKSIDE OF THAT.
IF YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING THEM. SO THAT IS ALWAYS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF THESE MEETINGS WITH A WITH AN APPLICANT OR A PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT.
AND, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TAKERS ON THIS.
IN GENERAL, WHERE, WHERE IS THE AREA INDICATOR THAT WOULD HAVE THESE APPLICABLE TRACKS.
THEY ARE THROUGHOUT DECATUR. ANY PLACE THAT'S IN THE CITY LIMITS OF DECATUR WOULD BE APPLICABLE, IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS. OKAY.
OKAY. SO THIS IS THIS COULD BE ON BUSINESS 380 OR SOUTH 51.
YES. YEAH. YES. THE MAIN ROADS ARE THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
I WOULD THINK. I'M SORRY. THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH DECATUR OR THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
NOW IT DOES APPLY TO A PRIVATE INVESTMENT OFF OF THIS.
OKAY. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE WERE JUST LOOKING FOR ANY ANY FEEDBACK OR INPUT
[00:15:08]
TO MAKE THIS PROCESS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. IT IS STILL JUST A POLICY.SO THAT POLICY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE CITY ARE.
WHEN WOULD THIS APPLY TO A TRACT OF LAND THAT IS BROUGHT INTO THE CITY? IF IT IF IT ENDS UP IN THE CITY OF DECATUR? YES.
AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? YES. OKAY.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT THESE APPLICATIONS? I MEAN, BEFORE THEY'VE BROKEN GROUND ON ANYTHING, OR IS IT THEY CAN BREAK GROUND AND THEN GIVE ALL THIS TO US AFTERWARD? THIS HAS BEEN A FAIRLY NEW PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.
AND ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, WE'VE HAD SOME APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED IN BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE PROPERTIES. WE'VE GOT OTHER ONES THAT HAVE COME BACK, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THIS WHENEVER THEIR PERMIT WAS APPROVED AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. AND SO NOW THEY'RE COMING BACK AND APPLYING FOR IT AT A LATER DATE.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
AND SO IT VARIES ESSENTIALLY. AND IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A LIMIT ON HOW LATE THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION.
WE DO NOT AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO TRY TO GET IT IN HERE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S AN INFILL PROJECT AS IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE HAVE SLIPPED THROUGH THERE.
THEY THEY DIDN'T TURN IN THE APPLICATION WHENEVER THEIR, THEIR PERMIT WENT THROUGH.
AND OF COURSE, I MEAN, YOU CAN ONLY OFFER IT SO MANY TIMES. AND THEN YOU JUST SAY, OKAY, IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED, THEN THAT'S ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK LATER AND SAY, WELL, YEAH, I THINK I'D LIKE TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. NOT A PROBLEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NOW I'M GUESSING OUR
[IV.2. New alternate a. Ms. Debra Jackson ]
SECOND ITEM IN OUR DISCUSSION IS DEBORAH JACKSON.YES, IT'S JUST A FYI TO LET THE BOARD KNOW WE'VE RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FROM MISS DEBORAH JACKSON.
VERY GOOD. WE WELCOME HER. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. NOW YOU GO TO YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[V. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ]
YEP. SO AS WE STARTED DOING IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE PUT THINGS THAT ARE ROUTINE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.IT'S THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH THAT'S ON THERE.
SO UNLESS THERE'S A NEED FOR DISCUSSION, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM DANNY. SECOND. SECOND FROM BUSTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. FOR THE RECORD, YOUR VOTE, YOUR MOTION.
AND SECOND WAS TO APPROVE THE MAY 18TH BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES.
RIGHT. IS IT TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OR TO APPROVE THE ITEM THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT'S TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS WRITTEN IS HOW IT'S USUALLY SAID.
IN THIS CASE WE ONLY HAVE THAT ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT.
GOT IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. PAM. ALWAYS KEEPING US STRAIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
AND HAVE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS? WE CURRENTLY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
[VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]
JULY THE 20TH. DO WE HAVE. NOT YET. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY APPLICATIONS.TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS. OKAY.
VERY GOOD. THEN WE STAND ADJOURNED AT 3:49. THANK Y'ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.