Athens City Council agenda includes $42.4M bond, church rezoning, and liquor license appeal
The Athens City Council met Aug. 10 to consider a $42.4 million bond issuance, alcohol licenses, and equipment purchases, and will meet again today, Aug. 24, to decide a church rezoning and a liquor license appeal. The Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission also held meetings in the past two weeks. No minutes have been published for any of the recent meetings, so outcomes are not yet known.
City Council (Aug. 10)
The council held public hearings on weed liens for overgrown grass and weeds, and on an alcohol license for Food City (Retail Beer and Wine On/Off Premise). The agenda included resolutions to approve $42,425,000 in General Obligation Warrants, Series 2026; purchase a John Deere 60P Compact Excavator for $121,000; and award District Three Economic Development Incentives to multiple businesses. A separate public hearing covered an alcohol license for Olive Garden. No votes have been reported.
Historic Commission (Aug. 11)
The Historic Preservation Commission held a public hearing on a Certificate of Appropriateness request by Susan Evans Architect, on behalf of Michael Grisham, for partial demolition, new construction, excavation, and renovation at 308 East St in the Robert Beaty Historic District. The commission also considered approval of the July 14, 2026 meeting minutes. No other business was listed.
Planning Commission (Aug. 18)
The Planning Commission held a work session and regular meeting with five public hearings. Items included a conditional use permit for an automotive repair shop at Greenfield Dr and Bab Daly Rd (Christian Brothers Automotive Corp); minor plats for Coffman Acres (19.75 acres into 4 lots at Compton Rd and Oakdale Rd) and Weigels Hine St (5.35 acres into 2 lots at Hine St and Hwy 72); a preliminary plat for Natures Ridge (72.38 acres into 120 lots at Lindsay Ln S and Johnson Rd); and a rezoning of 10.56 acres east of I-65 N near Johnson Rd from EST to R-1-3. Regular business included layout and final plat approvals for multiple subdivisions.
Coming up
The City Council meets today, Aug. 24. The agenda includes public hearings and votes on rezoning 8.12 acres at 13980 Cambridge Lane from EST to INST for Friendship Church AL; annexing 4.66 acres west of Edgewood Road, 2,300 feet south of Sewell Road, zone R-1-1; and an appeal of a denied alcoholic beverage license for Jay Gayatri, Inc. at 22728 Pepper Road. The consent calendar includes a purchase of a 2026 Ford F150 for $44,645 for the Sanitation Department and adoption of a Transportation Plan with about $300,000 allocated for road projects.