County Advertises Version 9 with a look to further changes later
News April 11, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – After months of debate, revisits, revisions, and deliberations, the Board of Commissioners is advertising its Land Development Ordinance changes as proposed in Version 9 for the county. Citizens are now able to see what the final document could look like if approved in both May and June.
After the months of preparation and details surrounding other minor details like standardizing and limiting personal driveway slopes to maintain access for public safety vehicles and emergency services, the county almost hit a tenth version as discussion continued onto the subject of workforce housing returning to the subject brought up by the Greater Gilmer JDA (Joint Devel0pment Authority) in recent months and years.
The topic was broached with discussion of high density housing through apartments and similar structures to provide affordable housing to working citizens supporting the community. It was noted these structures would need to be closer to the cities as they would require water and sewer access. The subject touched on drastically reducing the restrictions on the highest density residential zonings to support such structures and relying on the need for water/sewer access rather than wells, septic tanks, and similar options used by more of the unincorporated areas of the county.
However, full details were not delved into and discussed as the board sought to broach this subject later and no longer delay the main changes to the Land Development Ordinance that has been in process for months.
The board spoke of discussing the subject with the Planning and Zoning board as well as others involved including developers.
Additionally, Kent Sanford, Greater Gilmer JDA Executive Director, thanked the board this month as he spoke during the Citizens Wishing to Speak. He noted that demographics in Gilmer are continuing to show increasing retirement age citizens. However, Sanford said the county still needs more workforce housing and thanked the board for considering that.
One counterpoint came in the discussion saying that easing restrictions and allowing such density could still result in constructed “luxury apartments” that would still be unaffordable to many people working local jobs.
With more discussion to come and this topic not included in the current version, the board is looking at options to restrict or encourage affordable housing over luxury style.
The current version of the Land Development Ordinance is not in place yet, and even if final approval comes in June, the board is also looking to not implement these changes until at least 2022 or possibly one year from approval. No formal date has been set yet, but will be set before approvals come in May and June.
Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson also told citizens that this was not the only look into affordable housing as she shared she will be attending a meeting in the coming week on the topic looking for answers in the county.
As the “final version” of land development moves through its process, the board’s continued discussion is indicating that the current changes may complete soon, but it will not be the end of the discussions on housing in the county.
Development Ordinance Ninth Version to be discussed this week
News April 5, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – With the county’s April meetings coming this week, discussion and debate is continuing as the Land Use Ordinance change is in its Ninth Version for the county. The Board of Commissioners keep revisiting the document with new changes as citizens continue debating and questioning certain aspects of the changes.
Most recently, debates over 60-feet Right of Ways have come under scrutiny. Yet, the discussion has ranged from lot sizes to road quality to types of animals in hobby livestock.
Gilmer County has discussed each topic at length before having County Attorney David Clerk revise the ordinance. Now of Version Nine, the document still has not reached a formal First Reader. Over several meetings, the board has indicated the sentiment as Chairman Charlie Paris stated on different occasions that he wanted to get it right rather than get it done fast.
It is a sentiment shared by citizens and department Heads like Jim Smith, Director of Public Works, who have been along the discussion in every meeting.
Much of the support for continuing to adjust and modify the document came in their most recent meeting as discussions of the ’60 feet’ of Right of Way centered on the future and future needs to lay cable or pipe in the areas alongside the road. Because of that, the ordinance maintains a way for the Commissioners to classify and require different standards for larger developments.
Discussions have also included individual residential homes in addition to larger developments, from lot size to hobby livestock, the county is revisiting the topics of residential areas. They have also discussed driveways and slopes as Public Safety becomes involved in emergencies. Many homes farther from the city can get quite steep in their driveways, especially on the mountainsides and in difficult terrain where homes have to access a public road however they can.
Standardizations of driveway slopes, specifically, centered on public access and the county’s ability to respond rather than on personal use. Details focused on ambulances and fire-trucks.
Road work follows along as well as many citizens are pushing for the county to expand its paved roads system, both February and March saw roads added to the road paving list. However, this list includes all roads in the county in need of paving or re-paving, not just adding unpaved roads. Any road that is to be considered for paving must first be on the road paving list.
Adding new roads through paving dirt roads or developments in areas must follow these new changes and requirements, with allowances for adjustments on larger developments, once the ordinance change has been voted on.
In preparation of this weeks meetings, over 200 pages (the full document) of the Ninth Version of the Land Development Ordinance are available for public viewing. The county has noted intents to advertise the changes which could mean a First Reader could come in May. However, should more changes be requested from citizens or developers, the ordinance could be further delayed as it has in the past.