Church building, P&G recovery proposals recommended by Albany Dougherty Planning Commission

ALBANY — A proposal from Procter & Gamble to utilize vacant property to help get rid of storm debris on its campus and a proposed church on Cutts Drive have been recommended for approval by the Albany Dougherty Planning Commission.

The commission met Tuesday afternoon after a meeting Thursday afternoon was canceled when only five of the board’s 10 members — one short of the quorum required to conduct business — had appeared by 30 minutes after the scheduled meeting time.

Victorious Life Church is looking to construct a 316-seat facility on a 2.5-acre tract at 2275 Cutts Drive. Two proposals came before the commission, one for the construction of the church and another requesting a variance to a zoning ordinance that would allow the church to be built to front a local street in lieu of an arterial street.

The church is to measure 4,600 square feet and will require 53 parking spaces, with a 90 percent of the space remaining open. If it gets final approval, it will be built in a residential area, which is allowed under the current ordinances under some restrictions.

Todd Lanier, speaking for Lanier Engineering, said flooding concerns in the area will be looked into. The property is not currently served by a sewer line, and Lanier said he has communicated with officials in the Dougherty County School System about connecting to the line serving International Studies Elementary Charter School.

P&G is requesting that 25 acres of land on the 1600 block of Pecan Lane be rezoned from AG (agriculture) to M-1 (restricted industrial) so the manufacturer can collect recovered concrete damaged in the Jan. 22 tornado that hit its campus and grind it into material that could be spread on a vacant lot.

Jim Boyd Construction is taking on the project, which Gary Harrell, with Harrell & Jackson, said would have its operations centered in the area of the land closer to the railroad tracks. There will be a permanent structure placed on-site, and hours of operation will be from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., with minimal hours on Saturdays.

Residents in opposition to the proposal mentioned concerns related to dust, noise and traffic already being generated from existing operations nearby. Harrell expressed confidence that Jim Boyd Construction would be able to effectively minimize dust and noise issues, and planning staff said Tuesday they would be looking into standing water concerns in the area.

The proposal passed in a vote of 5-3, with Hosea Miller, Jimmy Hall and Yvonne Jackson voting against the measure.

The Victorious Life Church proposal will be voted on by the Albany City Commission at its April 25 meeting scheduled to begin in 6 p.m. The P&G proposal will go before the Dougherty County Commission at its 10 a.m. meeting on April 24.