Monday, July 9, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
CONYERS -- A zoning district that establishes streetscape design standards and architectural materials and design elements in the city's primary commercial district was approved by the City Council in June.
The new Village Design District encompasses a 435-acre stretch of land that extends from Interstate 20 to Miller Chapel Road. The new district is designed to create cohesive standards for streetscape design, land use, open space, site design, off-street parking and loading spaces, architectural design, landscape and screening requirements and other criteria for future development, according to the city.
The new zoning district will also help create economic opportunities for sustainable development and redevelopment while enhancing the aesthetic appearance of buildings, according to Marvin Flanigan, director of Planning and Inspections for Conyers.
The zoning change also included a change to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan to Special Mixed-Use Activity Center.
The Conyers/Rockdale Planning Commission held a public hearing on the zoning change and amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan on June 14 and recommended approval. The City Council voted unanimously to approve the change at its June 15 regular meeting.
Property in the new Village Design district previously encompassed a mix of zoning and Land Use Plan designations.
One business owner in the new zoning district expressed some concern at the June 15 council meeting about the new requirements.
Ron Azers, of Rockdale Cargo Equipment on Old McDonough Road, said he had planned to replace his modular building with a new facility in a couple of years. With the new zoning requirements, however, Azers said he was afraid he couldn't afford a new building.
"This is putting me in a position to have to look the way we look until I pass over the river," Azers said.
Flanigan responded that many of the requirements in the new zoning are already on the books under other ordinances. David Spann, chief operating officer for the city, said some of the requirements would fall into the public rights of way and would not apply to the property owner.
More like this story
- Conyers looks at changing zoning for Ga. Hwy. 20/Ga. 138 corridor ( May 3, 2012 )
- Conyers zoning seeks to revitalize core commercial district ( May 22, 2012 )
- Conyers to answer questions on mixed-use development district ( May 23, 2013 )
- City stiffens development requirements ( June 1, 2011 )
- Mini-warehouse rezoning to go back to City Council ( November 28, 2012 )
Comments
BUBBA 10 months, 2 weeks ago
so are we to become a village ( like the ones in kenya) and forgo common scence in efforts to line the pockets of war lords (politicions) and thier friends?? Lets spend our money wisely and fix problems befor creating new ones
wonderwhy 10 months, 2 weeks ago
You can dress an ugly person up in expensive clothes but in the end . . . . . The ugliness is still present.
Elmo 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Symbolism over substance...democrat *modus operandi... Does this benefit ALL Conyers/Rockdale people or just a select group...like, politicians. Just wondering, because we'll ALL probably be paying the bill.
heresyafacts 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Again, nothing about the fact that taxpayers are to foot the bill for construction of the "Taj Mahal" of a YMCA.
BUBBA 10 months, 2 weeks ago
we have WAY too many EMPTY business /retail/comercial office spaces in rockdale now WHY DO WE NEED MORE????? I was just at market square today and WOW JUST WOW looking at all the empty spaces. There are way too many apartments and homes (rentals) empty in conyers and rockdale to warrent building more. As I was riding up 138/20 I tried to count the empty spaces and lost track (didn't have enough fingers and toes). short term jobs for construction (with most workers coming from outside the county) will not help long term rockdale but maybe that is what the county admin really wants. We need to spend this money on bringing in jobs and companys to fill the spaces we have now not build more to sit vacant.
Conyers_Resident 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm honestly just curious. Do the people who have posted comments on this article live in the city of Conyers? We have lived in Conyers 30 years, own our home and pay taxes like others, both city and county. I agree with the City Council on this. I think our Mayor and City Council do a very good job, and handle the City's finances in a responsible manner. Having building and streetscape standards can only improve the lives of the people who live and/or work here.
BUBBA 10 months, 2 weeks ago
32 years and OWN (no payments) my home as well. We have homes and businesses sitting empty with little hope of filling them WHY BUILD MORE TO SIT EMPTY?? Go by Market Square and the 138 corridor and ask yourself if we really need to spend taxpayer money to build more please
Conyers_Resident 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Hi Bubba, We have OWNED our home since 1990. Fail to see why someone having a mortgage would make a difference since you're still paying property taxes. But whatever. I think I'm missing something here. The article is about zoning, building and streetscape standards. Other than road work, the city doesn't plan to build businesses do they? The empty buildings we have now, and I agree there are lots of them, were business ventures built by private investors (i.e. Market Square). Are you suggesting that if Market Square were built along the lines of the older style strip malls, that it would have higher occupancy? I think it got stuck in the ecomonic downturn, and that hopefully as things improve, it will become a vibrant shopping area. Are you suggesting the city and or county suspend building permits until all the older properties are occupied? I believe it is good sense for the City Council to keep it's eye on the future, even though we are currently experiencing some hard times.
Clark 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Suspending building permits would actually be a great idea. Why let people have more toys when there are plenty of abandoned toys no one is playing with all over the place? But I do agree that these zoning requirements are a good thing, even if they won't be acted on until someone decides to renovate.
Elmo 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Why would people who don't live here care one way or the other about this? As a native and 60-plus year resident I would contend that people wo no longer live here, but are from here might have an opinion about this, as well. While this might be a private business venture, there will be public funding involved in roads, traffic control, and taxing.
Conyers_Resident 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Hi Elmo, I didn't intend to infer that only people who reside in the city of Conyers should have opinions or speak to the issue. Useful info. and observations come from many sources. The more the better. My husband was born here and grew up here, like you. I certainly still have opinions about my hometown - like What in the world have they done to that place :~). I make such observations to my brothers who still live there. They often agree, but it's up to them, as taxpayers and voters in their city and county, to make their voices heard on issues that directly affect them, specifically in the voting booth.
Elmo 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Looks like too many leaders watched the "build it and they will come" movie". Those who are caught up in the fantasy of Hollywood might be better served to concentrate on filling what we already have, and stopping them from being robbed, before building more. Or, maybe they're still living in the "it takes a village" era, championed by the Hildebeast. Actually, what it takes is a smidgen of common sense and a couple doses of reality. Until people "evolve" into being good stewards of what they already have, there is little to gain by building new places that will devolve into more slums. The diversion of shiny, new buildings will do nothing to solve the problems that we have, and quite possibly will exacerbate them.
BUBBA 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree Elmo stop the insanity now
Clark 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I wholeheartedly agree with you on this Elmo. There's no reason to allow further sprawl when there are plenty of properties ripe for use. Take the Publix on Georgia 20 South for instance, why wasn't the current larger store still sufficient? I'm afraid that when the Publix anchor store closes (soon?) the smaller stores will die off, or start having to sell out to "we buy gold" and "checks cashed here" places.
lakeridge 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Gwinnett Village is already booming with pesos and food stamps. And marta. And meth.
Clark 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Funny, I don't see any MARTA routes, rail or bus, crossing the Dekalb line into Gwinnett on the service map...
superman 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I completely agree with Conyers_Resident. We should make our community visually attractive provided we can afford it. The City of Conyers has done very well given the economic times. My only concern is about the maintenance that will be required. I've seen too many communities build something and leave it. I think the City of Conyers put up the fence at 138 and Flat Shoals; excuse me if I'm wrong. It looked very nice when they built it but now it's over grown and looks just as bad. Someone should have saved their money and put up the cheapest fence they could have if they were just going to neglect it. I say if you can maintain it then build it. Otherwise don't bother.
Elmo 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree...so much money is spent for the shiny, new things, upkeep is largely ignored. Conyers could use ongoing cleanup, mowing, paint, and maintenance in general. Seems as soon as the "new" wears off, it's onto building another newer, shinier, project. Like kids with their Christmas toys, new projects are forgotten, once finished, and the money spenders start playing with the cardboard boepxes. Buildings and clutter don't make a town beautiful, ongoing maintenance and cleanup does. But, there's never any money for that. Maybe we should pass a SPLOST for maintenance and mowing funds.
Clark 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I also agree with this. It's not just those and the future fences either, it's also those ridiculous landscaping "things" with rocks and all on the entrance/exit ramps to/from I-20. I find nothing wrong with reasonably-well kept grass being maintained by the state.
superman 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm not a fan of those rocks; that should have been planned a bit more. I hope that whomever approved the design talked to more than a couple of citizens about the design. I remember when I-20 was lined with Crepe Myrtles and it looked so nice traveling on I-20. Now most of them are dead or nearly dead. We should do everything in our power to make Conyers/Rockdale attractive- it's one thing that sets us apart from DeKalb!
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