Highway commercial (HC). HC zoning districts are intended to establish and preserve business areas that are motor vehicle oriented, rather than pedestrian oriented. HC districts provide areas that are convenient and attractive for retail activities, business transactions, and services to the public designed primarily to meet the day-to-day shopping and services needs not only of residents of the county, but of surrounding communities as well. Off-street parking and minimum yards are required. Properties in this district must be located on major arterial roadways.

General commercial (GC). GC zoning districts are intended to provide adequate space for various types of general commercial business uses, including the retailing of major goods and services of larger scale than allowed in NC districts and other types of more intensive commercial activities involving non-industrial use of chemicals, outdoor displays, sales and storage and establishments that rely on highway-oriented passerby traffic.

Neighborhood commercial (NC). NC zoning districts are intended to establish and preserve small business areas of a limited nature that serve primarily the residential neighborhood in which they are located. Development standards for NC districts are designed to promote compatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood. In order to promote such business development so far as is possible and appropriate in each area, uses are prohibited which would create hazards, offensive or loud noises, vibrations, smoke, glare, heavy truck traffic, or late hours of operation. The intent of this district is also to encourage the concentration of local business areas in locations proposed in the comprehensive plan to the mutual advantage of both consumers and merchants and thereby promote the best use of land at certain strategic locations.

Light industrial (LI). LI zoning districts are intended to establish and preserve physically and aesthetically desirable areas in which clean, low-intensity manufacturing activities may locate and be protected from the intrusion of incompatible land uses. By having such areas available, both new and existing industries may operate and undertake expansion of facilities with the least possible adverse effect on other types of activities which might be incompatible with manufacturing. The elimination of non-manufacturing activities from LI districts benefits manufacturing activities by removing some possible obstacles to their smooth operation and expansion.

This district is intended for firms that assemble or fabricate manufactured products that are ready for retail sale. Processing of certain types of agricultural products is allowed in this district. Firms that utilize substantial quantities of water in manufacturing are not permitted in this district.

Heavy industrial (HI). HI zoning districts are intended to establish and preserve physically and aesthetically desirable areas in which clean, higher intensity manufacturing activities may locate and be protected from the intrusion of incompatible land uses. By having such areas available, both new and existing industries may operate and undertake expansion of facilities with the least possible adverse effect on other types of activities which might be incompatible with manufacturing. The elimination of non-manufacturing activities from HI district benefits manufacturing activities by removing some possible obstacles to their smooth operation and expansion.

(Amd. of 4-5-05(3); Amd. of 4-4-23(2), § 801)

¹  If in LI zoning district, must be entirely enclosed by a fence that is at least six feet high and screens the yard from view.

²  Except for planned developments. Ownership of individual units on a single lot may be transferred, provided that ground areas remain under common ownership.

P—Permitted use.
C—Conditional use.
S—Supplemental standards.

(Amd. of 4-5-05(3); Amd. of 4-4-06; Amd. of 3-6-07; Amd. of 11-6-07(3); Amd. of 12-2-08; Amd. of 6-1-10; Amd. of 7-5-11; Amd. of 4-7-15; Amd. of 6-7-16; Amd. of 11-7-17; Amd. of 5-1-18(1); Amd. of 12-4-18(1); Amd. of 11-2-21; Amd. of 6-2-22; Amd. of 8-2-22; Amd. of 4-4-23(2), § 802)

P—Permitted use.
C—Conditional use.
S—Supplemental standards.
C—Conditional Use.

(Amd. of 4-5-05(3); Amd. of 10-4-05; Amd. of 10-4-05(2); Amd. of 11-1-05; Amd. of 4-4-06; Amd. of 3-6-07; Amd. of 12-2-08; Amd. of 4-4-23(2), § 803)

Editor's note— An Amd. of April 4, 2006 repealed section 804 in its entirety. Former section 804 pertained to permitted accessory uses and derived from Amd. of April 5, 2005(3).

Editor's note— An Amd. of April 4, 2006 repealed section 805 in its entirety. Former section 805 pertained to accessory uses permitted as conditional uses and derived from Amd. of April 5, 2005(3).

¹  Square feet.

²  Square feet or as specified by the health department.

³  One foot for every fraction of two feet.

⁴  If over 35 feet, a fire control plan must be approved, in writing, by the county public safety director.

⁵  No principal building may be erected on any lot which has less than the minimum street footage of immediate frontage on at least one public street. For purposes of this provision, the term "frontage" includes the width of an easement to a public street from otherwise land locked property.

_____

(1)

Applicability to land and buildings. No building, structure or land may be used or occupied—and no building or structure or part of a building or structure may be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered—unless in conformity with all of the regulations specified for the district in which it is located.

(2)

Open space not to be encroached upon. No open space may be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity with the yard, setback, off-street parking spaces, and other such required development standards contained in the ordinance. Shrubbery, driveways, retaining walls, fences, curbs, and buffers (see definition in article 2) are not considered to be encroachments of yards. Open space areas as required by this ordinance must be permanently maintained as open space in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.

(3)

Reduction of yards or lot area. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, a lot existing at the time of the original passage of this ordinance (November 4, 1994) may not be reduced, divided, or changed so as to produce a tract of land which does not comply with the minimum dimension or area requirements of this ordinance for the district in which it is located, unless that reduction or division is necessary to provide land which is needed and accepted for public use.

(4)

Yards and other spaces. No part of a yard, other open space, off-street parking, or loading space required for another building may be included as a part of the yard, off-street parking, or loading space required for another building, except as specifically provided for in this ordinance.

(5)

Substandard lots. When a lot has an area or frontage which does not conform with the requirements of the district in which it is located, but was a lot at the original effective date of this ordinance (November 4, 1994), such a lot may be used for any use allowed in the zoning district in which it is located as long as all other requirements of this ordinance are met.

a.

Adjoining lots in the same ownership. When two adjoining lots are in the same ownership, they may be utilized as one lot without being replatted.

(6)

Encroachment on public rights-of-way. No building, structure, service area, required off-street parking, or loading/unloading facility is permitted to encroach on public rights-of-way.

(7)

Physical design standards. Minimum design standards for driveways, loading areas, and other such physical site improvements are contained in applicable development regulations of the county. Consult the zoning administrator for specific requirements.

(8)

Off-street parking and service requirements. Minimum standards for off-street parking and service requirements are contained in the county standard for off-street parking and service facilities (appendix G).

(9)

Yards abutting railroads. Side yards and rear yards are not required adjacent to railroad right-of-way.

(10)

Other applicable development regulations. Information concerning any other applicable development regulations may be obtained from the zoning administrator.

(11)

Residential structures and nonresidential structures designed or intended for human occupancy shall not be allowed to locate any closer than the height of the tower to any existing tower. See sections 2602 and 2605 of article 26, standards for towers and wireless telecommunications facilities.

(12)

The building and zoning official may authorize a bonus incentive of 15 percent for increased floor area ratio or net density, provided that the new development meets performance standards and offers amenities according to sections 1212 and 1213 of this appendix.

(Amd. of 4-5-05(3); Amd. of 1-3-06; Amd. of 4-4-06; Amd. of 4-4-23(2), § 806)

(1)

Automatic screw machine. Permitted only when operated with noise silencers, and when located not less than 300 feet from any zoned residential district.

(2)

Control of noise. Shall be muffled so as not to become objectionable due to intermittence, beat frequency, or shrillness. Noise as measured at the street or property line may not exceed 60 decibels, and must comply with requirements of the county's Code of Ordinances.

(3)

Control of gases, smoke, dust, dirt and fly ash. Such emission shall in no manner be unclean, destructive, unhealthful, hazardous or deleterious to the general welfare. Such emission shall be in strict conformance with all applicable health laws as pertaining to air pollution and smoke abatement.

(4)

Control of glare and heat. Glare and heat from arc welding, acetylene torch cutting or similar processes shall be performed behind solid walls or frosted glass adjacent to the structure concerned.

(5)

Safety hazards. The storage and handling of flammable liquids, liquefied petroleum gases, and explosives shall comply with all governmental rules and regulations.

(6)

Sewage wastes. Industrial sewage wastes shall comply with all applicable requirements of the governing body and the State of Georgia.

(Amd. of 4-5-05(3); Amd. of 4-4-23(2), § 807)