In order to carry out the intent and purpose of this ordinance, the City of Grantville is hereby divided into the following districts:

4.1-1

Rural Development District (RD). This district is intended to permit a combination of low-density residential uses of various types, limited agricultural activities and associated uses. The regulations of the district are designed primarily to encourage a compatible relationship between agriculture and low-density, single-family rural residential development.

4.1-2

Single-Family Residential (R20). The purpose of this district is to accommodate medium-density single-family residences. Single family dwellings are restricted to meeting Type I Appearance Standards.

4.1-3

Neighborhood Unit Plan (NUP). The NUP district is intended to provide land areas devoted to low- to medium-density single-family residential uses of three (3) or fewer units per acre consistent with the densities ranges suggested by the City Council. The NUP district is intended to: 1) encourage the development of medium sized tracts of land as planned neighborhoods or the development of vacant parcels of land with transitional densities in built-up areas; 2) encourage the preservation of trees and vegetation; and to 3) encourage innovative site planning.

4.1-4

Multi-Family Residential (R6). The purpose of this district is to accommodate higher density multi-family residential. Because of higher density, areas to be developed for this district would need a street system which will accommodate higher traffic volumes and are limited to the areas of the City served by sewer.

4.1-5

Commercial Residential (CR). This district is designed to provide a high quality environment for limited retail activities, offices for professional services and residential uses as part of the commercial structures.

4.1-6

General Commercial (GC). The purpose of this district is provide appropriate locations for a wide variety of commercial activities which will serve a large market area. This district will generally be located along the major arterial highways or where these highways meet. Emphasis is on creating commercial nodes rather than strip developments.

4.1-7

General Industrial District (GI). The purpose of this district is to provide suitable areas for warehousing, distribution, manufacturing and other intensive activities of an industrial nature.

4.1-8

Office Institutional (OI). This district is for offices, institutions and limited commercial activities not involving the sale, storage or processing of merchandise unless otherwise permitted.

4.1-9

Parks and Recreation (PR). This district is designed to be a public park and open space district. Such parks and open space may be owned and/or operated by the City or the County and intended for public use. All improvements within these districts must be consistent with the approved park master plan (when it occurs) for the site of the City Comprehensive Plan. Land set aside as open space and placed under a conservation easement may also be classified in this district. Conditional Uses: Library, meeting hall, athletic facilities, museum and public non-commercial picnic areas and campgrounds.

4.1-10

Light Industrial (LM). This district is established to provide for manufacturing and related activities having a minimal impact on the environment and surrounding land uses. The district is intended to attract a complementary mix of assembly, fabricating, distribution, warehousing, and service firms. A goal of the light industrial district is to provide architectural and site design standards which encourage development of such uses in a park setting, yielding benefits to business operators, employees and the community. Several factors distinguish the LM, light industrial district from the (GI), General Industrial district. A restrictive range of uses, architectural and site design standards, and generally smaller building sizes and lower lot coverage ratios in the LM are examples of these factors.

4.1-10.1

Purpose. The LM, light industrial district is established to provide for manufacturing and related activities having a minimal impact on the environment and surrounding land uses. The district is intended to attract a complementary mix of assembly, fabricating, distribution, warehousing, and service firms. A goal of the light industrial district is to provide architectural and site design standards which encourage development of such uses in a park setting, yielding benefits to business operators, employees and the community. Several factors distinguish the LM, light industrial district from the (GI), General Industrial district. A restrictive range of uses, architectural and site design standards, and generally smaller building sizes and lower lot coverage ratios in the LM are examples of these factors.

4.1-10.2

Permitted Uses. The following uses shall be permitted in any LM zoning district, provided no objectionable noise, vibration, smoke, gas, fume, odor, dust, fire hazard, radiation, or other injurious or obnoxious condition related to those uses creates a nuisance beyond the premises on which they are located:

1.

Light manufacturing, processing and assembly;

2.

Research and development;

3.

Warehousing and storage;

4.

Office and institutional;

5.

Wholesale trade, including auction house;

6.

Communication;

7.

Construction;

8.

Building materials and heavy equipment;

9.

Automotive, boat and trailer sales and service;

10.

Agriculture and forestry;

11.

Animal care;

12.

Customary accessory uses for a permitted use;

13.

Publicly owned building, facility or land;

14.

Commercial Recreation.

4.1-10.3

Conditional Uses. The following uses shall be permitted in any LM zoning district subject to the conditions set forth for each use:

1.

Open yard storage or use, provided the area is entirely screened from the street and from adjoining property by a natural and/or man-made barrier that provides a reasonable visual and physical separation between the use and the street and the adjoining property.

2.

Retail business, provided it is incidental to a permitted use or is intended to primarily serve the commercial needs of the permitted uses in the LM zoning district.

3.

Service business, provided it is incidental to a permitted use or is intended to primarily serve the service needs of the permitted uses in the LM zoning district.

4.

Single-family residential dwelling, provided it is incidental to a permitted use, it is intended strictly for housing a caretaker or watchman, and there is no more than one dwelling on a zoning lot, and that zoning lot must be at least 10 acres in area.

5.

Truck stop, subject to the following conditions:

a.

The lot upon which the truck stop is located, including all structures and parking spaces, is a minimum of five (5) acres;

b.

No such use is allowed within five thousand (5,000) feet in any direction from an existing similar use;

c.

On-site security shall be provided by the owner or operator of the truck stop twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week;

d.

No long-term storage of trailers or trucks shall be allowed on the lot;

e.

No overnight or sleeping facilities shall be provided on the lot.

6.

Day Care Center/Facility as defined herein.

4.1-10.4

Development Standards. Unless otherwise provided in this Ordinance, uses permitted in the LM district shall conform to the following development standards:

1.

Minimum lot area: One (1) acre.

2.

Minimum lot width: One hundred (100) feet.

3.

Minimum front yard: Thirty-five (35) feet.

4.

Minimum rear yard: Thirty (30) feet. ^[2]

5.

Minimum side yard: Twenty (20) feet. ¹

6.

Maximum lot coverage: Sixty (60) percent. ^[3]

7.

No building height shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet unless approved by the Fire Marshall.

4.1-10.5

Design Standards. Unless otherwise provided in this Ordinance, uses permitted in the LM district shall conform to the following design standards:

1.

All uses must be located on a collector street or within an industrial park served by a collector.

2.

All outside storage of materials and equipment must be completely screened from public view from adjacent properties and streets by an opaque screening device.

3.

Site design must permit on-site maneuvering of all vehicles; no backing to or from the street shall be permitted.

4.

No use shall be permitted which produces an objectionable or offensive odor in such concentrations as to be readily perceptible at any point along the lot line of the property on which the use is located.

5.

Parking areas shall be provided as specified in Article 13 of this Ordinance.

6.

Buffers shall be provided as specified in Article 6 of this Ordinance.

4.1-11

Highway 29 Overlay District.

4.1-11.1

Purpose.

1.

Highway 29, which serves as the gateway to Grantville as well as Coweta County, is on the threshold of a tremendous boom in residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Development of well over 1,000 acres of raw land is being driven by proximity to Atlanta and Hartsfield International Airport, as well as access to the interstate system.

2.

The regulations set forth in this Section 4.1-11 are intended to insure attractive developments which are complimentary and will promote a mix of uses rather than the undesirable commercial sprawl which has plagued many communities, such as Union City and the Georgia Highway 138 corridor. These standards will reinforce and implement a land use plan that features residential, office, personal services, hospitality uses, and retail uses along Highway 29.

3.

To this end, it is the City's dual goal to protect the aesthetics of the community and to encourage both commercial and residential development along the Highway 29 corridor.

4.1-11.2

Overlay District. This district is intended as an overlay district regulating and allowing the establishment of uses within the configuration of the allowable "Highway 29 Overlay District" boundaries. Said boundary shall include any properties or portions thereof, located within Five Hundred (500) feet of the Highway 29 right-of-way, as it presently exists or may exist in the future. The underlying district shall continue as permitted uses. Standards set out in this Section for Site Development and Architectural Design shall control over any underlying district regulations.

4.1-11.3

Site Development Standards

A.

In order to establish and maintain the Highway 29 Overlay District as a quality area which will preserve the investments of all land owners and developers, as well as encourage both commercial and residential development within the City, all development within the Highway 29 Overlay District must comply with the following standards:

1.

Landscaped Buffers. The following schedule shall control land development as specified:

a.

Retail and commercial services development. Such developments shall provide a landscaped buffer with a minimum horizontal dimension of thirty five (35) feet adjacent to the Hwy 29 right-of-way. A buffer with a minimum horizontal dimension of seventy-five (75) feet shall be provided where such developments are proposed adjacent to property developed as, or planned as, office use. A one hundred (100) foot buffer shall be provided on retail and commercial services developments which adjoin property developed as, or planned as, residential use.

b.

Office development. Office development shall provide a landscaped buffer with a minimum horizontal dimension of forty five (45) feet adjacent to the Highway 29 right-of-way. A buffer with a minimum horizontal dimension of forty (40) feet shall be provided on office developments which adjoin property developed as, or planned as, residential use.

c.

Residential development. Residential development shall provide a landscaped buffer with a minimum horizontal dimension of forty-five (45) feet adjacent to the Highway 29 right-of-way. Such buffers shall conform to the standards of Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance and shall provide berms designed to achieve topographic variation.

2.

Building Setbacks. The following schedule shall control building setbacks for all commercial construction:

a.

Front yard setback. The minimum front yard setback shall be fifty (50) feet. The minimum setback on corner lots shall be fifty (50) feet from each street right-of-way.

b.

Side yard setback. The minimum side yard setback shall be twenty (20) feet.

c.

Rear yard setback. The minimum side yard setback shall be thirty (30) feet.

3.

Off-street Parking. All retail and commercial uses shall provide a parking ratio of one space for every two hundred (200) square feet of enclosed retail floor area available to the public. One parking space shall be provided for every one thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area used for storage, assembly, warehousing or other purpose, provided that such areas are not available to the public. Such uses shall provide four and one-half (4½) parking spaces per one thousand (1,000) square feet to enclosed retail floor area available to the public, provided the establishments served by the parking spaces comprise a unified shopping center. All such off-street parking areas shall conform to the landscape standards provided in Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance unless exceeded herein.

4.

No loading areas shall be permitted between buildings and the Highway 29.

5.

Site utilities shall be underground.

6.

All development of sites in the Hwy 29 Overlay District shall preserve open areas according to the following formula:

a.

Projects which disturb areas of open space greater than (1) acre shall retain a minimum of thirty (30) percent of the gross site acreage in permanent open space.

b.

Projects which disturb areas of open space greater than (1) acre and provide a variety of site amenities, including but not limited to walking paths or trails, benches, lighting, picnic areas, and recreation facilities, shall retain a minimum of twenty (20) percent of the gross site acreage in improved open space.

c.

Projects which disturb areas of open space greater than (1) acre and provide site amenities consistent with the provisions of (b), above, and link those areas to similar areas on adjoining property which currently exist or could reasonably be utilized as open space, shall retain a minimum of ten (10) percent of the gross site acreage in improved open space.

d.

Projects which alter the site's natural drainage system by grading an area greater than fifty (50) percent of the gross acreage of the site, or by installing drainage structures requiring piping above eighteen (18) inches in diameter shall retain thirty (30) percent of the gross acreage in open space.

e.

Projects which preserve natural drainage swales and associated areas in permanent, natural settings shall retain twenty (20) percent of the gross acreage in open space.

f.

Projects which preserve natural drainage swales and associated areas in permanent, natural settings, and which are linked to natural drainage routes on adjoining properties, shall retain ten (10) percent of the gross acreage in open space.

7.

Acreage on development sites affected by this Section encompassed by natural water features, floodplains or areas preserved as greenbelts or wetlands may be credited toward the open space reservation.

8.

Required yard areas are not credited toward the open space reservation.

9.

Developers are encouraged to create secondary road networks through a system of density (lot coverage or building height) bonuses. Lot coverage ratios, inclusive of the building footprint and pavement for parking and driveways, shall not exceed seventy-five (75) percent. Pavement comprising internal street networks shall be exempted provided such street networks channel traffic between developments along Highway 29 and are not directly linked to Highway 29.

10.

Secondary road networks which provide a landscaped boulevard and are linked to adjoining properties shall entitle the property owner to density bonuses.

11.

Access to Highway 29 shall be limited to one driveway per existing parcel. Density bonuses shall be granted for consolidation of driveways currently permitted by Georgia Department of Transportation.

12.

Preservation of natural features shall encompass pedestrian amenities linked to adjoining properties. All development shall provide sidewalks linked to such amenities as well as adjoining properties.

4.1-11.4

Architectural Design Standards. In addition to the site development standards set forth in Section 4.1-11.3, all construction within the Highway 29 Overlay District must comply with the following standards:

1.

Building Materials. The following specifications shall control the use of building materials.

a.

Exterior wall materials shall consist of one (1) or a combination of the following materials:

i.

Brick or autoclaved concrete substructure.

ii.

Stone with either a weathered face or polished, fluted or broken face. No quarry faced stone shall be used.

iii.

Masonry stucco on concrete.

iv.

Concrete masonry. Units shall be those generally described by the National Concrete Masonry Association as "Customized Architectural Concrete Masonry Units" or shall be "split-faced" block with marble aggregate. No exposed concrete block shall be permitted on the exterior of any building within the sight line of a public street. Other exterior walls may be painted concrete block.

v.

Wood.

vi.

Glass in combination with metal or similar, durable architectural materials.

vii.

Limited use of standing seam metal is permitted in combination with the above materials. The use of Exterior Insulating Finish System (EIFS), also identified by such manufacturer names as "Drivit," synthetic stucco and building materials found to be other than durable products, are specifically prohibited.

2.

Architectural Guidelines. The following guidelines shall control the architectural character.

a.

Side and rear elevations of all office buildings and restaurants shall be substantially consistent with the front building elevation. Exterior building facades shall provide visual relief every 80-120 feet via setbacks, parapet breaks or other architectural element. Canopies installed on the facade shall provide visual relief through a canopy break every forty (40) feet.

b.

All new construction on each lot shall be representative of a single architectural style. Combining different elements or styles on a single lot shall not be permitted in the Highway 29 Overlay District.

c.

All front facades of the principal structure shall face and be parallel to the public right-of-way.

d.

The form and pitch of the roof of new construction shall be substantially proportional to the chosen architectural style.

e.

The height, scale, massing and fenestration of new construction shall be substantially proportional to the chosen architectural style.

3.

Roof mounted equipment. Roof mounted equipment shall be located and/or screened to minimize visibility from public streets and surrounding properties.

4.

Development shall be subject to architectural and site plan review. Applications for new construction, exterior alterations and expansion of existing structures shall be accompanied by scaled plans prepared by an architect, engineer or other appropriate professional. Such plans shall clearly depict the following:

a.

Building elevations through color rendering.

b.

Proposed colors, materials and textures.

c.

Location of all utility installations, including rooftop units.

d.

Property signs, including location, size, height, color and material.

e.

Line of site study portraying views of the development as seen from Highway 29.

5.

Site design shall protect adjoining properties from negative views and functional impacts. Such design shall also protect scenic views and incorporate natural features of the site.

6.

Development shall be planned in such a manner as to ensure architectural consistency within the development and bear a physical and aesthetic relationship to surrounding development.

7.

Fences shall be constructed of materials designed and manufactured for fencing, only.

8.

Dumpsters and outdoor storage, where permitted, shall be enclosed to a minimum height of six feet using fence or landscape materials.

4.1-11.5

Conflicting Ordinances. In the event of conflicting requirements between the provisions of Section 4.1-11 and other sections of the zoning ordinance or other city ordinances, the provisions of this Section 4.1-11 shall control as to Site Development and Architectural Design Standards within the Highway 29 Overlay District. Other conflicts between regulations shall be resolved with the most restrictive regulations governing the conflict.

4.1-12

Suburban Residential Single Family Dwelling District—Medium Density (RS-15). The district allows for medium density single-family detached residential development. Sanitary sewer service is required for this zoning district. The following additional requirements apply to this zoning district:

The RS-15 zoning district is required to conform to Residential Development and Appearance Standards.

4.1-13

Urban Residential Single Family Dwelling District—High Density (RU-7). The district allows for high density single-family detached residential and townhouse residential development with a maximum density of 4 residential units per acre. Sanitary sewer service is required for this zoning district.

The RU-7 zoning district is required to conform to Residential Development and Appearance Standards.

(Ord. No. 02-2012, § 2, 4-9-2012; Ord. No. 08-2012, § 1, 8-27-2012; Ord. No. 2024-02, § 1(Exh. A), 3-25-2024)

The boundaries of zoning districts are shown upon the map designated as the "Zoning District Map." The Zoning District Map and all notations, references, and other information shown thereon are a part of this ordinance and have the same force and effect as if the Zoning District Map and all the notations, references and other information shown thereon were fully set forth and described in the text of this ordinance. This Zoning District Map is properly attested and is on display at City Hall.

4.3-1

The district boundaries shown on the Zoning District Map are generally intended to follow streets, alleys or lot lines; where the districts designated on said map are bounded by such street, alley or lot line, the centerline of the street, alley or lot line shall be the boundary of the district unless such boundary is otherwise indicated on the map. In all other cases, the district boundary line shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the Zoning District Map.

4.3-2

When the boundary line of a district divides a lot or tract held in single ownership at the time of the adoption of this ordinance, the boundary line may be allowed to extend a distance of not more than fifty (50) feet to the least restrictive zone district.