Athens boards review elections, zoning, airport, and land bank budget in late June

Several Athens-Clarke County boards and commissions met in late June to take up election certification, zoning changes, airport improvements, and a proposed Land Bank Authority budget. All recent meetings listed below were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet available in the public record.

Board of Elections

The Board of Elections held a special meeting on June 22 to receive a pre-certification report from the director for the May 19 election results. A certification meeting was scheduled for 5:30 PM the same day. The board also announced a statewide recount of the Republican Primary for Public Service Commissioner District 3 on June 24, a Risk Limiting Audit for the June Runoff on June 26, and a Ballot Imaging Audit for the June Runoff on June 29.

A separate June 22 agenda indicates the board planned to consider approving or rejecting provisional ballots from the June General Primary and Non-Partisan General Runoff Election, review an unofficial election summary, and vote on certification. Public comment was also scheduled. Because minutes are not yet published, the certification vote and provisional ballot decisions cannot be confirmed.

Land Bank Authority

The Land Bank Authority met June 22 to elect a Board Secretary/Treasurer and vote on a proposed budget, work plan, bylaws updates, and an Executive Director job description. The board also planned to continue developing a memorandum of understanding with ACCGov. Future steps listed on the agenda include finalizing documents and preparing an agenda for Mayor and Commission approval. No dollar amounts for the proposed budget were included in the agenda summary.

Airport Authority

The Athens Ben Epps Airport Authority met June 23 to review financial and operational reports and discuss capital improvement projects. Discussion items included preservation efforts for landmark trees and new signage on the Lexington Highway frontage. The agenda also listed a draft 2025 Annual Report review and a safety briefing from Tower Manager Jessica Turner.

Athens in Motion Commission

The Athens in Motion Commission met June 23 to review the final draft of the Athens in Motion plan revision from Toole Design Group. Staff provided updates on the Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, which the agenda states was accepted by the Mayor and Commission, along with efforts to apply for implementation funding. Other items included a RAISE Grant agenda item for the May/June cycle, contract negotiations for the Reconnecting Communities Program on Hawthorne from Prince to Baxter and Oglethorpe from Prince to Mitchell Bridge, passage of TSPLOST 2026, and a Better Bus Athens Networking Workshop on June 8.

Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board

The Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board met June 24 to review public safety compliments and complaints, discuss Policy Review 2026-01, discuss technology, and receive an update from the Internal Auditor.

Hearings Board

The Hearings Board met June 29 to consider a variance request from Orion Athens LLC to reduce the required riparian buffer width under Sec. 8-6-4(c) to match state standards for a proposed mixed-use residential development at 600 W Broad St, 660 W Broad St, 363 Reese St, and 0 N Finley St.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission met July 2 to vote on multiple zoning changes and special use permits. Items included rezoning 1490 Whit Davis Road from RS-25 to AR, a special use permit for 1960 Barnett Shoals Road in a C-G zone, rezoning 1295 US 29 Highway from AR to C-G with a land use change, special use permits for multiple parcels along US 29 Highway North, and a Westclox Special District Overlay proposal for 100 Newton Bridge Road.

Coming up

• **July 7 — Board of Elections:** Review of a proposed advance voting schedule template, advertising outlets and costs, poll worker recruitment and training schedules, Logic and Accuracy testing of voting equipment (Sept 21–25), and the voter registration deadline for the Nov 3 Midterm Election (Oct 5).
• **July 15 — Historic Preservation Commission:** Review of Certificates of Appropriateness, including a new six-story structure at 290 W. Clayton St., a full demolition request for 480 N. Billups St., a new two-story building at 520 Cleveland Ave., a major rear addition at 255 Beulah Ave., and gravel parking installation at 297 Bloomfield St.

Earlier weeks

• week of 2026-06-29 — Athens government roundup: Zoning changes, election certification highlight recent meetings

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.