A process that’s taken much longer than the normal two-month meetings to go through the first and second readings, our Gilmer County Board of Commissioners have taken the first step, that is the First Reading, in changing Gilmer’s Land Development Ordinance.

The Comissioners have conferred through work sessions with local farmers, residential citizens, and even Amateur Radio Operators to combine the input and feedback into the new ordinance. Several of these specific groups of people were consulted as major changes have come in areas of farm use, hobby livestock, height restrictions for structures and exemptions.

To help with radio towers for operators, agreements were made to require Conditional Use for heights above 60 ft in order to bring those requests before the Planning Commission and ultimately the Board of Commissioners to inform neighbors and allow them to speak out or speak with those who are wishing to erect these towers to gain a better signal.

Hobby Livestock for residential zoned areas has changed to allow “one large animal (300 pounds or more) per 2 acres of grazable land or two small animals (less than 300 pounds) per acre, or 20 outdoor birds per acre.” However, the Ordinance does allow 6 hens or less in an enclosed or caged space as it has become common for some residents to want a few hens to lay eggs for them without taking on a major farming operation.

While the Commissioners held their Public Hearing before last weeks Regular Session where they adopted the First Reader, Citizens will have one more chance to speak on the issue at December’s Commissioner Meetings before a Final Adoption could be approved.

Make sure to follow our link to see the newly adopted Land Development Ordinance in its present state.