Athens City Council met Monday, drawing its most engagement over a proposal to create a temporary homeless living space.
The Gathering Place, a nonresidential peer support group, requested a zoning change to install Conestoga Huts on its parking lot at 1, 5 and 7 N. Congress St., which are in R3 and B3 zones. Conestoga Huts are small, temporary living spaces that would house the homeless overnight.
Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, announced the appeal and shared the law director's opposing opinion. Although spot zoning is not illegal, the city typically avoids it due to potential legal challenges.
Mayor Steve Patterson raised concerns about Athens’ growing homeless population but said he trusts The Gathering Place’s plan, citing the organization's 50 years of service.
During public comment, Megan Benjamin, a senior studying social work and an intern at The Gathering Place, voiced support for the project. She said 32 of the 36 residents she spoke with were supportive or indifferent.
One resident shared their concern with Benjamin, mentioning the occurrence of one person sleeping under their car in the winter due to a lack of available shelter.
“This is heartbreaking,” Benjamin said. “The hut project will help … Winter is coming fast. There is no time for the perfect solution that will make everyone happy.”
Swank reiterated legal concerns, explaining the ordinance would apply only to The Gathering Place’s property, unlike broader zoning changes.
Different decisions granted for the same rights, due to the timeliness of the ordinances, could cause legal trouble for the city.
“I think it might make sense to try to bring the two ordinances in line with one another,“ Swank said. "If in an R3 and B3 zone, we're going to require the Service-Safety Director to approve it first and then go to the BCA, and it be reviewed every year, perhaps we should have the same three conditions on this one."
Councilmember Jessica Thomas, At-Large, said she believes the measures should remain separate, so The Gathering Place ordinance would not impact citywide policy. She also called for removing the BCA review requirement from the proposal.
Autumn Brown, a member of the Athens Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Co-Create Housing Security Group, spoke in favor of the project. She noted her experience helping run the fire station last winter as an emergency warming center and said without that facility, more people will need the huts.
Councilmember Solvieg Spjeldnes, D-1st Ward, said she was more concerned about the statewide ordinance than the hut project. She said allowing temporary housing in other R3 and B3 zones without oversight could put residents at risk.
“There’s no condition of having some oversight or services or anything related to that, and I don't want them in places where they're not going to get services,” Spjeldnes said.
Councilmember Beth Clodfelter, At-Large, echoed those concerns.
Ginger Schmalenburg, executive director of The Gathering Place, has begun establishing the protocols for sanitation and programming for the temporary living facilities.
She spoke once at the meeting, as she said she wants to listen to others' concerns, so the Conestoga Huts will be structured to serve the community most effectively.
The Gathering Place staff members, as well as Schmalenburg, plan on attending every Council meeting until the final vote.
“We’re here and we’re going to keep coming back,” Schmalenburg said.
