Coweta County officials are hopeful the county’s overhauling of zoning categories and land use plans will be done by the end of the year.

County Administrator Theron Gay was happy to see the county’s comprehensive plan passed by the County Commission this week, and said the next step is getting the set of tools and ordinances passed to help the plan get placed into action.

“We’re looking at staging a public hearing December 14 on the first set of tools,” Gay said.

Included in the tools is the new Rural Conservation District, which replaces Rural Reserve. Single family lots will be either 1.6 acres or two acres, and four types of subdivisions are allowed in the zoning category.

The first type of subdivision allowed is the Equestrian Community Plan. This option provides for the development of contiguous equestrian lots and clustered residential lots as well as the development of community equestrian facilities such as barns, corrals, arenas, accessory buildings, and storage buildings used for feed, tack, and equipment used to groom common facilities.

The minimum size for this development is 25 acres and it has a maximum residential density of 0.5 units per acre.

The next type of subdivision allowed is the RCSD- Rural Conservation Subdivision: This option provides for development in clustered designs that maximize conservation of open space, protection of water quality, reduction of impervious surface, and natural drainage to manage storm water run off. This development type may include such typical residential uses as accessory buildings, home occupations, gardens, small personal pets and their enclosures. At least 40 percent of the land must be left as open space. The maximum residential density is 0.5 units per acre.

Another subdivision type allowed is the RE - Rural Estate Subdivision. This single family residential design option provides for a conventional lot layout and requires 300 foot building setbacks from the right-of-way of the county or state road system. This development type may include such typical residential uses as accessory buildings, home occupations, gardens, small personal pets and their enclosures, and non- commercial agricultural activities.

The minimum district size is 2.5 acres and the maximum residential density is 0.4 units per acre.

Later in the year, the county will consider the Villages concept. which could provide two additional towns, including McIntosh near Sharpsburg, in the county.

login to post comments