Clairmont Heights Civic Association

The county website for this project is located here: http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/planning/zoningCode.html#main

Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:31 am (PST)

January 22nd the Zoning Task Force met again to review comments from the first round of public hearings, and hear the consultants first steps in format and content of new Dekalb Zoning Ordinance.

Of interest is the concept of code use that may format the ordinance in anticipation of electronic use. Pond is suggesting that you will enter the ordinance through a series of questions about what type of project you propose (size, type, use); and you will be directed to applicable parts of ordinance. It is easy to see that this could be translated to an on-line service (or even just a fully cross referenced system for staff). This should help eliminate missing elements, such as now happens with Supplemental Regulations for existing neighborhoods (like average front yard setbacks).

The other important discussion is the reduction in zoning categories. Pond has reviewed the percentage of actual use of zoning categories in the County and is proposing the elimination or merger of many underutilized categories. This would merge the OCR category with the new PC zoning, to create a single mixed use format. They would add a denser PC-4 category to allow up to 120 residential units/acre. They are considering merger of R-85 with R-75; R-200 with R-150, R-50 with R-60, R-A5 with R-A8. There is a concern in the last 2 combinations, as to how starter housing sizes can be maintained without becoming exclusionary. They are considering elimination of The R-20,000 and R-30,000 categories that were placed in the 1999 code and never used. Elimination of R-DT, O-I-T, and OD are also in consideration. A revised residential mix to replace TND is also being considered. The idea is to better support the Comprehensive Plan and to simplify the Ordinance by eliminating little used categories. This would allow better definition of fewer categories, so hopefully the need for overlays, variances, and SLUPs, will be reduced.

The consultants are still in the early stages, and are putting all aspects of the Zoning Ordinance and its use, on the table. They have only outlined the format of the Ordinance. They will continue to take concerns and suggestions as they begin the process of writing the Ordinance. Hopefully the website will be updated soon, to present this information, and accept comments.

Gene Schmidt
Zoning Task Force - District 2 rep.
efschmidt@yahoo.com