Should any article, clause or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such action shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any part hereof other than the part so declared to be invalid; each article, clause and provision hereof being declared severable.

This is the zoning ordinance of the City of Ellijay, Georgia, and all other conflicting ordinances or resolutions are hereby repealed; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as repealing or modifying the conditions of operation or conditions of site development accompanying the zoning approvals or use permits issued for developments already in progress before adoption of this ordinance; however, modification or repeal of these past conditions of approval may be accomplished as provided by this ordinance.

All variances and exceptions heretofore granted by the city council or other applicable authority shall remain in full force and effect, and all terms, conditions and obligations previously imposed shall remain in effect and be binding. Prior ordinances shall remain in effect insofar as required for the initiation of any proceedings against such violations and for the prosecution of any violations heretofore commenced.

This ordinance shall become effective June 16, 1997. Passed and adopted by the Ellijay City Council, this 16th day of June, 1997.