2.01.01   Gordon County Zoning Map

A.

Zoning districts for Gordon County are hereby established as shown on the "Official Zoning Map of Gordon County, Georgia."

B.

The Official Zoning Map of Gordon County, Georgia shall be identified by the signature of the chair of the Board of Commissioners, attested by the County Clerk, and shall include the date of adoption.

C.

The Official Zoning Map of Gordon County, Georgia may be amended according to the procedures set forth in Chapter 10 of the ULDC.

2.01.02   Rural Zoning Districts

The use of private wells and the use of private septic tank systems shall be allowed in all rural zoning districts established herein subject to approval by the Board of Health and any applicable state regulations governing such. The following rural zoning districts are established:

A.

RC-1, Rural Conservation District. This district is intended to provide for the long-term protection and preservation of large areas of publicly or privately-owned property not suitable for development, including environmentally sensitive natural resource systems, major recreation areas or historic sites, farmland, and hillsides or ridge lines. Structures that are built within the Rural Conservation District are limited to buildings that are supportive of and accessory to the conservation land uses.

B.

A-1, Agricultural District. This district is intended to provide for agricultural activities, including those related to crops, livestock, and timber, protected from the effects of suburban residential development. Required minimum tract size shall be five (5) acres.

C.

RA-1, Residential Agricultural District. This district is intended to preserve the mixed agricultural and residential character of land while providing a transition between rural and agricultural land and suburban and urban land. Required minimum tract size shall be two (2) acres.

(Res. of 12-20-11)

2.01.03   Residential Zoning Districts

The use of public water systems and the use of public sewer systems shall be required in all residential zoning districts established herein with the exception that the use of private septic tank systems, including decentralized wastewater management systems, shall be allowed in the R-1 and R-6 districts established herein subject to approval by the Board of Health and any applicable state regulation governing such. A decentralized wastewater management system may be allowed at the discretion of the County Administrator subject to the approval of the Board of Health and any applicable state regulation. Only conventional built dwellings shall be allowed in any residential zoning district established herein excluding the R-6 district. The following residential zoning districts are established:

A.

R-1, Low Density Residential. This district is intended to provide for single-family residential dwellings on individual lots at a low density of development. Required minimum lot size shall be twenty thousand (20,000) square feet with the use of the public sewer system and twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet with the use of a private septic system or as approved by the Board of Health.

B.

R-2, Medium Density Residential. This district is intended to provide for single-family residential dwellings on individual lots at a moderate density of development. Required minimum lot size shall be fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

C.

R-3, Suburban Density Residential. This district is intended to provide for single-family residential dwellings on individual lots at a higher suburban density of development. Required minimum lot size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

D.

R-4, High Density Residential. This district is intended to provide for duplexes having a minimum heated floor area per dwelling unit of nine hundred (900) square feet and townhomes having a minimum heated floor area of one thousand one hundred (1,100) square feet. The overall allowed density in R-4 is six (6) units per acre for duplex developments and twelve (12) units per acre for townhome developments. Required minimum lot size for a duplex shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet. Required minimum lot size for overall development for townhomes shall be one (1) acre. Required minimum lot size for detached single-family residential dwellings shall be five thousand (5,000) square feet.

E.

R-5, Multi-Family Residential. This district is intended to provide for conventional built apartments and condominiums, greater than two (2) units per building, having a minimum heated floor area of six hundred (600) square feet for a one (1) bedroom unit, eight hundred (800) square feet for a two (2) bedroom unit, and one thousand (1,000) square feet for a three (3) bedroom unit. The overall allowed density in R-5 developments is fourteen (14) units per acre. Required minimum lot size for overall development shall be five (5) acres.

F.

R-6, Manufactured Housing Development. This district is intended to provide for housing developments consisting of detached manufactured homes within a planned residential community having no less than ten (10) acres in overall development area. Required minimum lot size for individual lots shall be eight thousand (8,000) square feet with the use of public sewer and twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet or as approved by the Board of Health with the use of a private septic system.

(Res. of 12-20-11)

2.01.04   Commercial, Office, and Institutional Zoning Districts

The use of public water systems and the use of public sewer systems shall be required in all commercial, office, and institutional zoning districts established herein with the exception that private septic tank systems, including community sewerage disposal systems, shall be allowed in all such established districts on lots having a minimum area of one (1) acre subject to the approval of the Board of Health Services. The following commercial, office, and institutional zoning districts are established:

A.

O-I, Office Institutional. This district is intended to allow development of business and professional activities, medical and dental facilities, and the development and maintenance of publicly owned lands and structures, parks and recreation areas, public schools, and buildings used principally for government functions. Limited retail uses normally associated with office or institutional uses, accessory structures, and essential public services are also permissible. Required minimum lot size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

B.

C-C, Crossroads Commercial. This district is intended to provide locations for limited retail and service uses to satisfy the common and frequent needs of residents of nearby residential and agricultural areas. It is the intent of the district to locate businesses at major road intersections rather than in a strip or linear fashion. Required minimum lot size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

C.

C-G, General Commercial. This district is intended to provide locations for a wide variety of retail and service uses to satisfy the common and frequent needs of residents in large sections of the County. It is the intent of the district to concentrate businesses in focus areas at major road intersections rather than in a strip or linear fashion. Required minimum lot size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

D.

C-H, Highway Commercial. This district is intended to provide areas for commercial activities which provide products and services, including "big box" retail, that generally require locations with the highest level of access to major collector roads, arterial highways, and regional transportation systems. Required minimum lot size shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

2.01.05   Industrial Zoning Districts

The use of public water systems and the use of public sewer systems shall be required in all industrial zoning districts established herein with the exception that uses permitted within such districts which do not use water in the manufacturing or assembly process, or only involve the warehousing, storing, or distribution of products shall be allowed to use a private septic tank system, including a community sewerage disposal system, on lots having a minimum area of one (1) acre subject to the approval of the Board of Health. The following industrial zoning districts are established:

A.

I-1, Light Industrial. This district provides for light industrial uses which do not create excessive noise, odor, smoke, or dust and do not produce, store, or handle hazardous wastes. Permissible uses include activities involved in warehousing, assembly, storage, and commercial services. Required minimum lot size shall be twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.

B.

I-2, Heavy Industrial. This district provides for the manufacturing, assembling, storage, distribution, and sales activities that are generally high intensity. For those industries which may have negative impacts or nuisance factors associated with their use, supplemental standards shall apply within the district. Required minimum lot size shall be one (1) acre.

2.01.06   Mixed Use Zoning District

The use of public water systems and the use of public sewer systems shall be required in the MU mixed use zoning district established herein. The following mixed use zoning district is established:

A.

MU, Mixed Use. This district is intended for the development of a combination of residential, office, and commercial uses. Light industrial uses may be appropriate for locations with the highest level of access to the Interstate system. This district is established to encourage creative and resourceful projects that include compatible, interrelated uses, multi-modal connectivity, and related public facilities unified by a development plan.

2.01.07   Conversion of Previous Zoning Districts

A.

Zoning districts as were established under the previous zoning ordinance of Gordon County are hereby renamed to the following zoning district names and designations under this ULDC, as shown in Table 2.01.07(A). All regulations, requirements and provisions of this ULDC applicable to a zoning district established under this section shall apply to the previously named zoning district as now named, as shown in Table 2.01.07(A).

B.

All special conditions and special stipulations imposed as conditions of rezoning of property prior to adoption of this ULDC are hereby retained and reaffirmed, and shall continue in full force and effect until such time as the property is rezoned or the prior zoning action of the Board of Commissioners is amended through the rezoning process established by this ULDC.

Table 2.01.07(A)
Conversion of Previous Zoning Districts

2.01.08   Zoning Districts and Future Development Map Relationship

Eleven (11) character areas are reflected on the Future Development Map for unincorporated Gordon County, and each are implemented by individual zoning districts, as indicated in Table 2.01.08.

Table 2.01.08
Permitted Zoning Districts

(Res. of 12-20-11)

2.02.01   Generally

Overlay Districts are a special purpose zoning classification used to supplement, not substitute for, the current zoning districts, called the "underlying district," in order to protect and promote public and private investment. More stringent controls generally apply within the overlay district than would normally be required in the underlying districts.

2.02.02   New Echota Overlay District

The purpose of the New Echota Overlay District is to protect the historic setting and viewsheds of the New Echota Historic Site and the unique experience enjoyed by residents and visitors by ensuring that new development in the district will complement rather than detract from the historic value of the site and surrounding area and will respect the district's rural character, natural features and significance as the former Cherokee Capital and Trail of Tears site and round-up route.

2.02.03   Resaca Battlefield Overlay District

The purpose of the Resaca Battlefield Overlay District is to protect the historic setting, viewsheds and topography of the Resaca Battlefield, which includes both public and private properties, and the unique experience enjoyed by residents and visitors by ensuring that new development in the district will complement rather than detract from the historic value of battlefield area and will respect the district's natural and historic features, its rural character, and its contributions to the heritage of Gordon County, the state and the nation.

2.03.01   Generally

Table 2.03.03 describes those uses that are permissible in each base zoning district. Buildings, structures, or land shall be occupied or used only in conformity with all of the regulations set forth herein for the district in which they are located. The zoning districts for Gordon County are shown on the "Official Zoning Map of Gordon County, Georgia."

2.03.02   How to Read the Table of Uses

A.

Within the following table the letter "P" indicates that the land use is permissible, subject to compliance with the standards of the zoning district.

B.

The letter "S" indicates that the land use is permissible, subject to compliance with the standards of the zoning district, and the supplemental standards specified for the use. Supplemental standards are contained in Section 4.04.00.

C.

A blank cell indicates the land use is prohibited.

D.

Any land use that is not identified in Table 2.03.03 is prohibited unless it is found to be substantially similar to an identified use in said table by the Director of Planning and Development or designee.

1.

A requested use shall be considered substantially similar when the characteristics of the requested use are equivalent in type, intensity, degree, or impact when compared to a use named in Table 2.03.03. Such characteristics include, but are not limited to:

a.

Typical hours of operation;

b.

Use of outdoor storage;

c.

Trip generation rates;

d.

Generation of noise, light pollution, odor, smoke, electromagnetic interference, or vibration; and

e.

Customary functions of the use.

2.

The administrative interpretation shall be subject to appeal, as set forth in Chapter 10.