The Jittery Joe's memo

A copy of the Jittery Joe's memo ...

October 5, 2009

TO: Athens-Clarke County Administration and Planning Staff:

RE: Jittery Joe’s use of East Broad Street Parking Lot

A great deal of public response has resulted from the elimination of parking next to the Jittery Joe’s Roaster on East Broad Street, and a formal response is in order. As a regulating body, local government has a responsibility to act swiftly in cases of public health and safety and environmental threat, when immediate and lasting damage may occur. In the case of the East Broad parking, while there were some technical violations of zoning code underway at the parking lot, there has been no reported environmental damage, health or safety risk, or permanent alteration of the landscape. We ask that Athens-Clarke County administrators allow the parking situation to remain as-is through a temporary permit, pending a special-use hearing by the mayor and commission. As the use has been underway for a number of years, a continuation for a matter of a few months is reasonable to provide both parties with a route to a more lasting resolution. Of course, the applicant should understand that entering the special use application process brings the possibilities of approval or denial, as with any other application.

Signed,

Commissioner Kelly Girtz
Commissioner Mike Hamby
Commissioner Doug Lowry
Commissioner David Lynn
Commissioner George Maxwell
Commissioner Ed Robinson