by Robin Kemp
Here’s what to keep an eye on this week in Clayton County:
MONDAY, MARCH 15
5:30 p.m.: Jonesboro Historic Preservation Commission will consider certificates of appropriateness for a rear extension of an existing carport at 106 W. Mimosa Drive; a sign and awning for Tax Facts on N. McDonough St (no address given); changing the exterior color of T.H. Weiss, 180 N. McDonough St.; and a new ground sign forTran Realty, 181 N. Main St. It also will consider revising a Certificate of Appropriatemess for a renovation and addition at 204 Lee Street. See the agenda packet for details.
6 p.m.: Forest Park Work Session, followed by regular meeting at 7 p.m.: This Sunshine Week, City Clerk Sharee Stead will discuss an ordinance that would establish a formal records management and retention policy for the city. “This will assist us in the destruction of files that can be destroyed which will free up storage of files in the Archive Room,” the agenda notes. Public Safety Director Chief Nathaniel Clark also will present “the discussed initiatives to aid in our efforts to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse pool of applicants.” Councilman Mears will resume a discussion about the Venue Nightclub, 4730 Frontage Road. Under new business, the council will discuss an agreement with Georgia Power for engineering and design services for light poles on Main Streets, approving a grant application for $2,500 for a community garden. Deputy Fires Chief Clemons and Division Chief Joel Turner will give their COVID-19 update. Join the meeting via Zoom at https://bit.ly/3vmV24p with meeting ID 835-1538-7991 and passcode: 204090. To listen in by phone, call (301) 715-8592, then enter meeting ID 835-1538-7991 and passcode: 204090. Be sure to mute yourself unless you are recognized to speak. You also can watch on YouTube at https://bit.ly/3c28p0A, both live and as a recording, on the “City of Forest Park, GA” YouTube channel.
6:30 p.m.: Lovejoy City Council: The Council has several major items on its agenda, including creating a Lovejoy Housing Authority, appointing its members, and giving it “the property located at parcel
number 06157 164019,” also known as 0 Talmadge Road, a mostly-wooded tract the city owns valued at $108,096. The council also will consider filling a vacancy on the Development Agency board and hold a public hearing and consider a conditional use permit for a gas station at 00 Lovejoy Road, 06157A B002, owned by Chapter 2 Rental Properties. You can attend in person at 2296 Talmadge Road or watch via Zoom at https://bit.ly/3thTEhm with meeting ID 913-8728-5250 and passcode 2K7VEh. Questions? E-mail Marie Burnham at m_burnham@cityoflovejoy.com.
TUESDAY, MARCH 16
5 p.m.: Morrow Planning and Zoning Work Session: Board members will tour city-owned buildings from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The public may follow in their own vehicles.
6:30 p.m.: Morrow Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting: Vice Chair Wayne Collins will run the meeting, according to the agenda. After approval of the February 23 Special Called Meeting minutes, the board will take nominations for a new chairperson.
6:30 p.m. Clayton County Board of Commissioners: The BOC agenda features some major items this week, The board is set to approve two contracts totaling $50.38 million with Georgia DOT to widen Battle Creek Road and Mount Zion Boulevard, “specifically 2.28 miles of Battle Creek Road from Valley Hill Road to Southlake Parkway and 3.33 miles of Mt Zion Boulevard from Southlake Parkway to Somerton Drive.”
The perennial “dollar store” ordinance is back, this time with specific detailed requirements and definitions. The board also will consider an ordinance to update the definitions of “boarding house,” “family,” “group home” and “personal care home.” The ordinance defines “family” as “An individual, or two or more persons if related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship and not more than three unrelated persons, occupying a single dwelling unit and using the same cooking facilities.” It also defines “personal care home” as “Any dwelling, whether operated for profit or not, which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide or arrange for the provision of housing, food service, and one or more personal services for two or more adults who are not related to the owner or administrator by blood or marriage.” The change would exclude halfway houses, substance abuse treatment centers, or state-run juvenile detention and rehabilitation from the definition of “group home.” Group homes would be conditional uses in areas zoned residential or agricultural. Homes with four or more residents would require building and fire inspections, must be at least one mile from similar facilities, and be at least two acres.
The BOC also is amending a lease for the Clayton County Tag Office at 1510 Southlake Pkwy. to reflect the new owner, Southlake SDC, LLC. The previous owner was Glenwood Morrow Company, LLC.
State Rep. Sandra Scott will get kudos from Commissioner Sonna Singleton Gregory on their COVID-19 cooperation and Commissioner Felicia Franklin will issue a proclamation on behalf of the county’s elected African American women leaders. The Clayton Crescent counts 41 such women in power.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
Clayton County Community Development will hold its Community Information Meeting (CIM). It’s also the deadline for staff to receive any Proof of Interested Party notices .
THURSDAY, MARCH 18
6:30 p.m.: The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet via Zoom. Register in advance at https://bit.ly/3vB4vVZ .
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
In honor of Sunshine Week, The Clayton Crescent’s executive editor and CEO, Robin Kemp, will hold a Zoom meeting for citizens who want to learn more about the state’s Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act. Learn how to file an Open Records Request and what to do if you receive pushback from a government entity. We’ll also touch on the importance of knowing your rights and point you to a slew of useful resources. The online workshop is free of charge and open to the public. A separate story with a link to the Zoom meeting will be posted this week.
As always, we ask that you e-mail us directly if you see that we missed something.
