Friday, June 21, 2002
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Friday, June 21, 2002 |
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Senoia reviews proposed zoning changes By MONROE
ROARK
Proposed zoning changes in Senoia appear to be well on their way to fruition, if Monday night's public hearing at City Hall is any indication. City Administrator Murray McAfee outlined the planned changes in the city's Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Ordinance and repeatedly said that he had heard of virtually no opposition to the changes. No one in the audience Monday night spoke out against them, either. The amended Zoning Ordinance would eliminate the Planned Unit Development classification, which McAfee said has not been used in about 10 years anyway. That would get rid of the possibility of cluster homes and zero lot lines in Senoia, he added. Also set for elimination is the R-20 zoning category, which allows for 1/4-acre lots. Having lots that small would be "abnormal" in Senoia, McAfee said, and removing that category would be more consistent with historical lot sizes in the city. Existing developments with 1/4-acre lots would be grandfathered in under the proposed amendment and would not require any variances, he said. The new Zoning Ordinance, if accepted, would also set a one-acre minimum for lots utilizing septic tanks, McAfee said. Also, Planning Commission sessions will be clarified as "public meetings" rather than "public hearings," a move that should save the city a number of expensive public notice requirements, according to McAfee. Proposed changes in the Land Development Ordinance include establishment of a conceptual plat process, as well as giving mayor and City Council control of the conceptual, preliminary and final plat processes. A new procedure is to be introduced for issuance of land disturbance permits, which would be separate from development permits. Also to be introduced are performance bonds, posted prior to development to ensure installation of project improvements following preliminary plat approval, and maintenance bonds, to guarantee all improvements dedicated to the city for two years following acceptance and prior to final plat approval. The first reading of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Ordinance took place at the regular City Council Monday night just after the public hearing. The second reading and adoption of the ordinances is scheduled for July 1, which is also the date that the city's moratorium on annexation and rezoning is to be lifted.
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