The purpose and intent of the planned industrial district regulations are to provide for a comprehensively planned district for the orderly growth and development of certain industrial uses which are, by virtue of controls, mutually harmonious with other industries permitted in said planned industrial district and also harmonious with residential, commercial, and other uses permitted in nearby districts. The planned industrial district caters to basic industries requiring large tracts of land; it is intended to be protected from encroachment by commercial, residential, and other land uses adverse to the location and expansion of industrial development. The planned industrial district regulations are intended to promote the health, safety, morals, welfare, comfort, and convenience of the inhabitants of this district and the surrounding lands. Within a planned industrial district as shown on the official zoning map of Meriwether County, Georgia, the following regulations shall apply.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building or structure shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered, enlarged, or maintained except for one or more of the uses herein cited and subject to the conditions stated herein:

(1)

Commercial heliports and/or helipads.

(2)

Computer and data processing services.

(3)

Educational, scientific, and research organizations.

(4)

Engineering, architectural, and design services.

(5)

Federal-, state-, county-, city- or public utility-owned or operated buildings and uses.

(6)

Manufacturing, processing, fabrication or assembly of the following:

a.

Apparel.

b.

Automotive and implements.

c.

Electrical and electronic machinery, equipment and supplies.

d.

Food and kindred products intended for human consumption.

e.

Lumber and wood products.

f.

Machinery other than electrical.

g.

Metal and metal products.

h.

Plastics, glass and rubber products.

i.

Printing and publishing.

j.

Professional, scientific, and controlling instruments.

k.

Research and development operations.

l.

Textile mill products.

m.

Transportation equipment.

(7)

Medical and dental laboratories.

(8)

Office buildings for general office purposes.

(9)

Research, experimental and testing laboratories.

(10)

Warehousing, interior storage, and distribution in conjunction with manufacturing, assembly and office use.

(11)

Wholesale storage, warehouse, and distribution facilities.

(12)

Public utility buildings, excluding communication towers and antennas.

(13)

Wholesale or retail sale of industrial equipment.

(14)

Bottling plants.

(15)

Exterior storage in conjunction with the above-mentioned uses completely screened from adjacent property lines and streets.

(16)

Accessory structures and uses to those permitted herein.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

(a)

Yards facing an existing or proposed street other than a controlled access highway shall be considered front yards. Such yards shall have a minimum depth of 100 feet.

(b)

All other yards shall have a minimum depth of 50 feet.

(c)

All required yards shall be kept clear of parking, except as provided for in section 15.5(e) and (f), loading areas, exterior storage areas, and accessory uses and buildings; provided however, a gate or security station may be located in a required yard.

(d)

Easements. There shall be provided an easement of not less than 25 feet along each side and rear lot line for utilities and drainage.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

(a)

Buildings only shall not cover an area greater than 50 percent of the total area of the tract. Buildings and all improvements combined (including vehicular parking and tract loading) shall not cover an area greater than 70 percent of the total area of the tract.

(b)

Minimum lot area shall not be less than ten acres for each tract.

(c)

Minimum lot width of each tract shall not be less than 200 feet as measured at the building line.

(d)

Maximum number of stories shall be ten and maximum height shall not exceed 120 feet unless a variance is granted by Meriwether County.

All structures exceeding a height of 40 feet must include a fire suppression system and fire response plan approved by the Meriwether County Fire Department.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

(a)

Each lot shall have a minimum frontage of 100 feet on a public road.

(b)

Access to building sites shall be via collector or arterial streets wherever possible. No access roads serving plants shall be permitted which may place heavy traffic on residential streets that are not classified as major collector or arterial streets.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

(a)

The minimum number of off-street parking spaces for the following types of uses shall be provided as follows:

(1)

One space for each 300 square feet of ground floor area, plus one space for each 500 square feet of upper floor area for non-manufacturing uses to include offices, laboratories and technical support.

(2)

One space for each 300 square feet of manufacturing and assembly area, plus one space for each two employees on the maximum working shift.

(3)

One space for each three employees on the maximum working shift, plus one space for each company vehicle operating from the premises, for warehouse and storage area.

(b)

All parking areas shall be paved and properly drained. No parking shall be permitted any place other than in paved parking areas.

(c)

Loading areas shall not be placed within any front yard nor in any required yard and shall be located and properly screened, as well as practicable, so as to not be visible from any existing or proposed street.

(d)

Parking and loading areas shall be landscaped in accordance with section 15.6 of this ordinance, landscaping requirements.

(e)

Off-street parking for visitors, executives and handicapped persons may be permitted in the required front yard not to exceed threespaces per 100 feet of frontage on a public street and shall not encroach within 70 feet of an existing or proposed street.

(f)

Off-street parking areas and access ways in required rear and side yards are not permitted within 30 feet of any side or rear property line.

(g)

The provisions of this section 15.5 shall control over any conflicting provisions contained in article 11 hereof.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

Every building site on which a building shall be placed shall be landscaped in the following manner:

(1)

All yards required under this ordinance shall be landscaped and maintained. A minimum of one tree per 20 linear feet of distance for each boundary line shall be planted in the required yards.

(2)

All off-street parking, loading and unloading areas shall be screened, as well as practicable, from view from streets by the use of earth berms or landscaping materials.

(3)

Landscaping and lighting of off-street parking and vehicular use areas are required.

(4)

Each side and rear yard shall have not less than a 30-foot-wide strip of land adjacent to the property line planted and maintained; however if any yard faces an existing or proposed street, then it shall have not less than a 70-foot-wide strip of land planted and maintained except for main access drives into the site.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)

(a)

Any landowner of property lying in a planned industrial district desiring to dedicate any street, road, or right-of-way to the public must submit to the director of community development a plan of the proposed street, road, or right-of-way for approval.

(b)

Anyone desiring to secure a building permit for the use of land lying in a planned industrial district must submit to the director of community development a generalized plot plan of the tract to be developed for approval. Such generalized plot plan shall have shown thereon the following information:

(1)

Location map showing the boundaries of the tract to be developed.

(2)

The locations of all buildings proposed to be constructed.

(3)

The general locations of parking areas, loading docks, proposed railroad spurs, and public and/or private access ways.

(4)

Site grading and storm drainage plan.

(5)

Proposed utilities services.

(6)

Required screening.

(7)

Required and adequate easements.

(c)

The director of community development shall review and approve by signature the proposed plot plan upon finding that the same complies with these regulations. If the proposed plot plan is not approved, the director of community development shall state in writing on the proposed plot plan the cause for such disapproval.

(Ord. No. 2020-04, § 1(Exh. A), 8-25-2020)