1 - Ivan Allen, Jr. Digital Collection - Georgia Institute of Technology

- ATLA.'"TA, GA. 30302, TL'ESD.\Y, APRIL 2, 19HCouncil Votes Zoning Pouer to JacksonBy mt l\IERRINERAlarms that the City Council is "becominga tubber stamp" were sounded Monday.but the coWlCil voted 11-6 to shin immensezoning power from the council to MayorMaynard Jackson.The action gives Jackson power to appointall nine members of a new zoning reviewboard. The original bill created aseven-man board named by the council, butsudden lobbying by Jackson cbanged that onMarch 18.Responding to warnings against a "onemangovernment," CounciImaii Hugh Pierce"said, "Certainly we are figureheads. c,r.tainly we all! tubber stamps. That Is £he"'''3y it was inlended" by the new city char."".The emotional debate concemed anamendment by Councilwoman Panke Brad.ley to have the COWlcil appoint six of thenine board members. The board will holdhearings on zoning applications and makezoning l"eC1)mmeodatioll6 to the councilMts. Bradley said some COUDC:ilmen toldher they favored the amendment in princiPle- but would vote against it'I1l.e reason, she said, was rear that theII •l,,•I •".,••••, •said L.~•," ,.'""•.'w:'. ••,.: ":.'.•• , " ," 0',"1:From "nlte 1,.\board ordinance passed U-5.Gulhman, \\'ho had supportedthe amendment, also voted forthe unamendrd version.The Citywide u-ague ofNeighborhoods favored rrstridingthe zoning board toquarterly meeti~ and abolishingit when ncw developmentplans are enacted nextyear. otherwise, the leagueboard could pushthro~gh "8 rash of rezonings"undermining ()rdef'ly development.But amendmenu for quarterlymeetings and an int~rimboard lost by heavy margll\S.Ma}w Jaekson w 8 S notavailabl!' for comment Monday,He pn'\'iously defendPdhis move for aPPOmtmentpowers by saying that councilappointments could result lD apolitically unbalanced board.Six boord member! will becOOsm from the at·large councilposts jpalred distric~l,and three from "muniCIpalplanning, architt!Cture, law orrelated profeesioll!."Board members mllst notbe government officials oremployes. The y wilt holdhearin~i every 30 to 90 daysand will rE'ceive $25 per meet·ing. Mc-mJx>rs will serve sbggeredtwo-year Urms.~1a\'oral nominaUons mustbe approved by a majontycouncil vote, so tbt earhe:"lthe panel could be created ISat the April 15 council meeting.The PlaMlng Departmmtnow recorTllTK'Ods that zoningapplica tion.~ received by April15 be corurick'red at a zoningreyil'w board hearing May 30.It lakes about 45 days to prot'­e 5 s the applications andad\'ertise hearings, officialssay. .A moratortum on rorung,giving t.ie city time to establishnew procedures undl"r thecharil'r, has been in effect:;l