Community Development News
Zoning Ordinance to be Updated
June 16, 2010
Carroll County has grown in population from approximately 65,000 residents when zoning regulations were first implemented in 1987, to approximately 115,000 residents presently. This explosive growth experienced here in Carroll County was mirrored by the rest of the metro Atlanta region, triggering new residential, commercial, and industrial development. With this large growth, comes the challenge of effectively encouraging it, while at the same time, trying to protect the interests of established residents and businesses.
Over the years, since zoning regulations were first introduced into unincorporated Carroll County, the County has used virtually the same zoning ordinance to administer land use. For the first several years after its adoption, the zoning ordinance served its purpose well. However, over time, it has become antiquated, and is no longer the best instrument to regulate land use in a growing suburban county.
The ordinance has been tweaked several times in recent years, in an attempt to address needs and issues that have arisen over time. The Community Development staff realized that with the economic slowdown, this was the perfect time to undertake the complete revision of the county zoning code. The zoning ordinance revision is being spearheaded in house by the staff thus keeping costs significantly lower than if an outside consultant performed the task entirely. A citizen group (Zoning Advisory Panel) appointed by Chairman Chappell met last spring with the Community Development staff to listen and present feedback on initial drafts of the ordinance. Since then, the staff, with the help of several interns, has been completing the full draft. The main goal of the rewrite is to be able to address the needs of a modern Carroll County, and provide for the effective regulation of myriads of land use possibilities.
After a final draft is completed in the coming months, the next step in the process will be a legal review of the document. After that review and any necessary revisions, the Zoning Advisory Panel will meet one last time, and after that, the Board of Commissioners will discuss the draft at work sessions for their review. Public hearings and review sessions will be advertised, so that the public has ample time to read, review and comment on the proposed new ordinance and map.
