Fraternity seeks special‑use permit at historic 357 S. Milledge; neighbors and chapter outline parking and restoration plan

The Athens‑Clarke County Planning Department presented a special‑use permit request July 21 for 357 South Milledge Avenue, a Tudor Revival house in the Millage Avenue Historic District, to be used as a fraternity residence with an expansion that would increase the house to about 17,700 square feet and provide 24 bedrooms for an expected 56 on‑site residents.

The applicant asked for two variances: a reduced parking lot screening buffer (from 10 feet to 6 feet) and a reduction in required parking (from 93 to 63 spaces) with a plan for 33 on‑site spaces and 30 off‑site spaces via an agreement with an adjacent lot. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions, including carrying over RS‑25 tree canopy requirements and livestock limitations, and letting the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) complete final design review. Staff and the planning commission emphasized that the special‑use approval would be binding and that a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC will be required for any design work because the property is in the historic district.

Representatives from the chapter and its engineers described extensive neighborhood outreach and a written, enforceable parking and operations plan filed in the meeting packet. Charlie Nelson, the chapter president, told commissioners the group had hosted a restoration roundtable with neighbors, committed to low‑intensity parking lot lighting, a left‑turn‑only exit, assigned parking for residents (either on site or at the adjacent Butler Building lot), and strict enforcement measures (written warnings, fines, towing, suspension of privileges) that the chapter said are binding on approval.

Neighbors who spoke were split. Some longtime residents and a representative of the Henderson Historic District urged approval to save a neglected historic home and praised the chapter’s restoration plan. Other residents and commissioners pressed the applicant on whether the off‑site parking agreement with the Butler Building had been executed (staff said it was 'in principle' and would have to be executed before permitting), and questioned the reduced screening and the reliability of off‑site parking as a long‑term solution.

Commissioner Wright, whose district includes the property, supported the project and cited prior code enforcement actions to secure the property; Commissioner Link emphasized historic‑preservation benefits and said he looked forward to HPC review. Commissioner Johnson and planning staff noted staff’s discomfort with a significant parking reduction in a dense area and stressed the importance of a binding off‑site parking agreement and the written parking management plan.

What’s next: The matter was discussed and returned for a vote at the August 4 meeting; staff advised that the applicant must execute necessary off‑site parking agreements and obtain any required HPC certificates of appropriateness before final permits are issued.