Snellville City Council Meeting Recap: Speed Zones, Briscoe Park Improvements and More

The Snellville City Council and mayor held its second August meeting Monday (Aug. 26). 

While there were some arguments that took place at the meeting, here's a summary of the agenda items discussed: 

-The council approved a zoning case and variance request for an office at 2128 E. Main Street. City Planner Jon Davis explained that the owner of the lot had been given years to bring everything up to code, but he failed to do so. This year, the owner requested that some of his conditions be removed.  

One resident who directly lives behind the business spoke before the council and explained that nothing's been done for the buffer between his home and the lot. Mayor Tom Witts also spoke about the two large oak trees that were cut down on the lot, which violates the city ordinance. The business will be fined for cutting down the trees.  

The item was passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Diane Krause voting against it. There are now seven conditions that the business has to comply with, and they include that a parking lot, sidewalk and landscaping be installed and completed by the end of the year; the owner must obtain a septic system permit or approval from Gwinnett County within 60 days; and a buffer of evergreen trees, large shrubs, or something similar to be added to the property.

-The mayor and council postponed the motion to amend a 2001 zoning ordinance that will adopt policies permitting special uses relating to collective residences such as personal care homes, community living arrangement and group homes. The council will revisit the issue at the next meeting Sept. 9. 

-Mayor Kelly Kautz read a resolution honoring Snellville veteran police officers. 

-The council voted 6-0 to move forward with the contract with HDR Inc. to address repairs to the lake at Briscoe Park. Parts of the Pate Lake stone wall have deteriorated, and HDR has agreed on finding out how to fix the wall for $13,500.

-Lastly, the council agreed unanimously to sell its old generator from the previous police department building on eBay. 

-Although no changes were done to it since it was last passed a few years ago, the speed zone ordinance was approved unanimously. The ordinance, which is required by the Georgia Department of Transportation, sets speed limits, streets for use of speed detection devices and more.

-The use of the Mobile Stage by the city of Lawrenceville on Oct. 5 and Snellville First Baptist Church on Aug. 28 was passed. 

-The Myriad Settlement agreement was withdrawn from the agenda.

-The bid to TruGreen for the Field Chemical Contract was approved 6-0. The contract is for improving the athletic fields at Briscoe Park.