The Statesboro City Council voted Tuesday to grant a request for a setback variance on property located at the corner of Northside Drive and Lee Street. Currently owned by Dr. Stephen Jordan, the move would make way for O'Reilly Auto Parts to purchase the property and build a new 7,200 square foot store on the site. The property is currently zoned C-1, appropriate for a retail store.
Due to an odd angle at the rear property line, owners sought to reduce the rear setback requirement to ten feet at one corner of the building. A ten-foot landscape buffer would still be required.
The site plan includes 33 parking spaces — double the number required by the Zoning Ordinance — to be located in the front of the building, facing Northside Drive. Neighbor Dale Madson, a local dentist, was concerned that the large oak trees in the front of the property would be removed to make way for parking. Charles Brown, representing Dr. Jordan at the meeting, said it was too late to change the site plan at that point since the city council was just about ready to vote. However, he said that a good faith effort would be made to convey Madson's concerns to O'Reillys, with the hope that something could be worked out to save the trees.
Due to an odd angle at the rear property line, owners sought to reduce the rear setback requirement to ten feet at one corner of the building. A ten-foot landscape buffer would still be required.
The site plan includes 33 parking spaces — double the number required by the Zoning Ordinance — to be located in the front of the building, facing Northside Drive. Neighbor Dale Madson, a local dentist, was concerned that the large oak trees in the front of the property would be removed to make way for parking. Charles Brown, representing Dr. Jordan at the meeting, said it was too late to change the site plan at that point since the city council was just about ready to vote. However, he said that a good faith effort would be made to convey Madson's concerns to O'Reillys, with the hope that something could be worked out to save the trees.