Minutes of the
CALLED MEETING
For the
City Council of Lookout Mountain, Georgia
April 23, 2009
PRESIDING: Thomas G. Gifford, Mayor
PRESENT: Vice Mayor, Dennis Eischeid, Council Members David Bennett, Sandy Gothard, David Fussell, Catherine Kelley, City Attorney Bill Pickering, and City Clerk Dana Driver. Also present was Mr. Phil Walker of the Walker Collaborative.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gifford called the meeting of the City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1214 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Mr. Phil Walker of the Walker Collaborative came before the City Council to present his review of the proposed PUD ordinance and the City’s current comprehensive plan. Mr. Walker made a full presentation to address the questions that the Council had posed before him. Mr. Walker’s full presentation is attached hereto the minutes
Mr. Walker addressed the first question: Is the current draft PUD ordinance is consistent and compatible with the City’s comprehensive plan?
· Yes, it could be argued either way, but a strong case exists, given the intent of PUDs, it maybe non-issue anyway.
The second question: Is the draft PUD ordinance a well-written and comprehensive ordinance that will result in high-quality development regardless of its relationship to the current Comprehensive Plan?
· Yes, while there are minor adjustments that could improve it, it is a well written document that hast the potential to yield high-quality development.
The third question Mr. Walker addressed: Should the adoption of the draft PUD ordinance be postponed until the creation and adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan?
· Yes, it should be postponed until the creation of a new city-wide Comprehensive Plan.
· Mr. Walker explained that the Comprehensive Plan is the basis for all zoning. Zoning is a plan implementation tool. He advised that the City should go through a city-wide comprehensive planning process which would include analysis and visioning, goals and objectives, charrette and alternative growth scenarios, preparation of the draft plan, and plan presentation and vision. Mr. Walker stated that the proposed planning process would take about four months.
Mr. Walker added several other observations, the main one being:
· A PUD is not the best tool to implement the Town Center Plan. The Town Center zoning needs to become prescriptive to insure that it meets expected standards.
In conclusion he pointed out the following positives for our community and process:
· We have an extraordinary environment, community character, sense of place, and quality of life.
· We’ve not messed things up!
· We are poised to embark on a city-wide comprehensive planning process that will be transparent and inclusive.
· We have City leaders seeking the truth / unvarnished professional opinions.
· We have an educated and engaged public anxious to participate.
The Mayor thanked Mr. Walker for his presentation and opened the floor to the audience for questions and comments. There was good interaction and generally very positive feedback to Mr. Walker’s presentation.
Sandy Gothard made the motion, seconded by Catherine Kelley, that the City Council defer the proposed plan unit development (PUD) ordinance and proceed with revising the city’s comprehensive plan. The motion was passed unanimously by the Council.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Driver
City Clerk