 Tue, May 13, 2008 05:52 PM
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2008-01-17  JOHNS CREEK HERALD | JCCA offers zoning case training workshop
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| | by Jennifer Brock | |  |
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| | | (SPECIAL/www.northfulton.com)TAYLOR and GADDIS (click for larger version) | |
January 23, 2008
JOHNS CREEK -- Now that the city of Johns Creek has its first official year under its belt, residents have been getting more and more involved with several city issues, including zonings.
There have been a few "high profile" cases – Mount Pisgah, the development at McGinnis Ferry and Bell Road, to name a couple, which seemed to have sparked an interest in city matters.
But for the Johns Creek Community Association (JCCA), which has been actively serving the community and its interests for more than 25 years, the best way for residents to get involved is through proper education – and that starts with training.
The JCCA started a zoning liaison training course for citizens who have an interest in getting involved with zoning cases that first come before the Planning Commission and later with the City Council.
The JCCA invited residents of its member neighborhoods who wanted to learn more about the zoning process from the homeowners' association perspective to its Jan. 3 workshop.
Hosted by Mike Lackey, zoning committee chair, Gary Tipps, standing zoning committee member and Lea Taylor, zoning case liaison, and Jon Payne zoning committee member, the group gave a brief overview of how the JCCA zoning process works to seven residents.
Cleve Gaddis, president of the JCCA, gave a Zoning 101 presentation – the same presentation that was put together by the city – and talked about the qualifications to be a zoning case liaison.
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A liaison facilitates discussions between the homeowners' associations and the applicant. As part of the training, residents are required to go through the zoning process shadowing a liaison and attend Planning Commission meetings.
Taylor said she thinks the training workshop was helpful.
"I've seen quite a few of the trainees come to the Planning Commission meetings and even at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting," said Taylor. "That's hopeful and optimistic. We would love to have as many people that are interested."
The trainers went through the procedures that the JCCA follows when a zoning case comes before them– the Steinberg criteria and the step-by-step methods of holding community informational meetings.
Gaddis said the trainers wanted to explain to the attendees the importance of facilitating open discussion and make sure the true feelings surrounding zonings get to the surface.
He added that it's the perfect time to get the community involved because homeowners deserve to know how they can be a part of the process.
"Our whole objective of doing this is just to get the citizens informed on what might be happening one block away from them," said Taylor. "We try to get a feel for what the community wants. We try to get that information not only to the applicant so that he or she can address concerns, but to also hopefully help the Planning Commission and Mayor and City Council so they see what their constituents are feeling."
Gaddis said he hopes the JCCA will hold the zoning liaison training workshop on an annual basis.
"People are accomplishing things there…I was very impressed," said Gaddis. "I feel proud of what everybody's put together."
- www.northfulton.com
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