Staff Reports
February 4, 2019 – Chairman Phillip Beard called February’s City of Buford Commission meeting to order. After the Pledge of Allegiance was said, the Commission approved the agenda and minutes from January’s meeting.
The first piece of business was for Embry Real Estate Partners LLC regarding rezoning property located at 4000 and 4022 Carter Road from R-100/RA-200 to R-100 with a special use permit to allow a CSO Subdivision on the 23.7 acres. The Commission voted to table this until March. A zoning request from C-2 to R-100 for Christopher McGrath at 355 South Harris Street was approved with conditions. The plan calls for the property to be divided into two (2) residential lots. Taylor & Mathis Inc. requested that 12 acres be rezoned from C-2 to M-1 for property located at 4624 Friendship Road for an industrial development. The request was approved with conditions.
Exit 2 Partners LLC/John R. Yost requested that 0.86 acres located at 4604 Friendship Road be annexed into the city and a change of zoning from AR-III to C-2. The request was approved. A zoning modification for David Frick – D. R. Horton for 4191 Summer Breeze Way, Lot 57A in the Whispering Creek Subdivision was requested to change zoning condition #5 for front setback from 20 feet to 19 feet. The request was approved.
Dunkin Donuts off Friendship Road requested a change in condition 4 – reduce landscape strip from 10’ to 5’. The request approved. The wastewater allocation for Popeye’s restaurant located at 4455 Nelson Brogdon Boulevard was approved. An agreement between the City of Buford and MEAG Power to purchase power from the City of East Point was approved. The City of Buford’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy was approved to be renewed. The renewal of the Property and Liability insurance policy was approved. The Commission authorized the City Manager to proceed with negotiations to purchase real estate.
A contract was approved with Counseling Connection Inc for employee assistance program services (EAP) in the City of Buford’s anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention program. Two special events were approved for the Buford Youth Sports Complex. The application for a special outdoor event on the Buford Community Center’s lawn was approved. The event is for Art-Tiques Vintage Market to be held on Memorial Day weekend. The final vote to adopt the City of Buford 2040 comprehensive plan was passed by the Commission.
Various payments were approved. Those include final Buford City Gym project payment, Jackson Street CDBG Stormwater project, City of Buford parking deck project, Hamilton Mill Gas relocation project, South Lee Street LCI Pedestrian Streetscape project, and streetscaping at the corner of South Lee Street and Moreno Street.
Todd Cleveland updated the Commission on the BCC. The Kiwanis Father-Daughter Dance went well with a turnout of approximately 900 attendees. City Manager Bryan Kerlin gave his report to the Commission. Updates to building and structural plans for the downtown parking deck have been completed. Pouring the foundations has begun. The project is slightly behind schedule due to the amount of rain we have received, however, the work should be able to get back on schedule with weather permitting. Electrical work on Jones Alley is underway as part of the Parking Deck project. Brick paver work remains and final punch list items remain on the South Lee Street LCI project. Concept plans for the Moreno Street project were reviewed by ARC. The city will begin work on funding when applications are accepted by the ARC. The Thompson Mill Interchange Justification Study received comments from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The City has addressed the comments and expects GDOT approval within 30 days. New BHS is proceeding on schedule with plans for landscaping completed and installation to begin. Projects for gas, electrical, and stormwater are progressing on schedule. Cardinal Glass is planning an expansion of its manufacturing facility. The City will be the electric supplier and making preparations for the expansion. Cardinal is the City’s largest electric customer.
In the Parks and Recreation Department, youth basketball is wrapping up. Six Junior Alta and several adult Alta tennis classes have been formed and will begin shortly.
This wrapped up the regular business for the meeting. Chairman Beard went around the room to see if anyone had any business to bring to the Commission. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
