By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

The framework for new environmental regulations is on its way to the Fayette County Commission for its consideration.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has unanimously adopted a new chapter to the county land use plan, identifying natural and historic resources in the county.

Identified are features such as rivers and streams and their flood plains, various soil types, wetlands, watershed protection areas, geological formations and historical places.

Approval of the chapter drew praise recently from local environmentalist Dennis Chase. “I'm encouraged that the county is going in this direction,” said Chase.

He said Gov. Roy Barnes has recently begun an initiative on water quality issues that will affect counties like Fayette. Halting pollution and excess runoff in local waterways is “going to become a very significant issue,” he said.

He also praised planners in Fayette for moving forward quickly on environmental issues and not waiting for state-imposed deadlines to spur them to action.

“All that's going to lead to some very positive things for Fayette County,” he predicted.

If the County Commission approves the new land use plan chapter in its April 27 meeting, the work will have just begun, said Chris Venice, county planning director. Next on the agenda is passage of new regulations governing wetlands, flood plains and ground water recharge areas, all of which may make developing land in Fayette more difficult, particularly in the southern end.

“The land use in the southern area of county, given the environmental concerns in that area, may need to be changed,” Venice told the Planning Commission during a recent work session.

“We may have an area that's designated for one-acre lots that's loaded with wetlands, and we'd have to ask if that's a good idea or we should change it to five-acre lots,” she said this week. “And vice versa. We could have an area that's high and dry and has good soils designated for five-acre lots and might want to reconsider that,” she said.

The Planning Commission will begin its review of the proposed ordinances April 20.

The first two ordinances will be updates of existing ones, to meet new state standards. The third will be a new law, again written to meet new state and federal laws.

A quick glance at the Planning Department's new color maps detailing soil types, wetlands and other features shows why the southern part of the county will be more difficult to plan land uses for.

Not only does the area have three large groundwater recharge areas, but also all of Fayette's waterways converge as they move south, increasing the percentage of land affected by the new regulations.

“Fayette is one of the most heavily covered counties with recharge areas,” said Venice.

In addition to environmental concerns, the new land use plan chapter also addresses historic resources. It's titled Natural and Historic Resources, and lists the county's historic treasures.

The commission meets tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.