Much to the chagrin of some attendees of last week’s Greene County Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting, the board passed significant resolutions for amending the zoning code for all Planned New Developments (PUD).
This comes on the heels of the moratorium imposed in late May on any new applications for preliminary plat applications in the county. It was reported that the moratorium was imposed following input to the county’s comprehensive plan by the community, which cited concerns about the rapid development of the county and overly dense development.
The BOC sought to amend the zoning ordinance to modify the provisions of the Planned Unit Development District, the Commercial Planned Unit Development Districts, key definitions, buffer requirements, incorporate special events clarification into other zoning districts, repeal the traditional neighborhood development provisions and other necessary changes. Its unanimous approval makes the resolution adoption immediate.
Greene County has experienced tremendous growth in both its quality of life, county services and access to Lake Oconee. Since 2010, when the population numbered just shy of 16,000 residents, the county has seen a growth rate of 23.74 percent. The current population stands at roughly 20,000 and has seen a growth rate of 1.5 percent since last year.
A multi-page document shared what is permitted and what isn’t in the county.
According to County Manager Byron Lombard, subsequent changes to key ordinances protect the county and will control growth. The county’s comprehensive plan, which was developed with input from its citizens, made controlled growth first and foremost its main focus moving forward.
Among the many modifications and changes discussed were the density changes to major, minor and commercial PUD and buffers that provide both aesthetic and neutral space for adjacent properties.
Before the amendment, the existing density cap was 10 units per acre. It now changes to eight units per acre for all PUDs.
“The other concern we addressed are allowable buffers,” said Chris Edwards, special assistant to Lombard. “Additionally, the allowable density is confined to specific locations in the planned PUD and not necessarily the whole parcel. Before, under the old ordinance, there could not be more than four dwellings of livable space per acre across the whole PUD. Effectively, we cut that in half to two units per acre and allow for flexibility for owners wanting smaller lots.”
Steve Broadbent is a full-time resident of Reynolds for the last two years, having first acquired property here in 2015. He is a former city council member of Johns Creek in north Fulton County, having served in that role for five-and-a-half years.
He has taken the opportunity at many meetings to voice concerns for zoning and its growth. He shared with Lake Oconee News that he felt the BOC missed an important opportunity to better control future density in the county.
Commissioner Ernie Ernie Filice supports the ordinance changes and feels the county did its due diligence in support of the input received.
“It is reflective of what we heard and complements the overall final plan for density growth,” he said.