The Flowery Branch City Council got its first look Thursday at a comprehensive set of language changes to the city's zoning ordinance.
City Planning Director Rich Atkinson presented the proposed changes. He said the main purposes of the changes are to solidify existing codes and to add changes that reflect the current direction of the city.
"(The code) as written is very suggestive, it suggests the city would 'prefer' you park in the back, would 'prefer' the porch in the front, and I think that it just needed to be changed and updated to say 'you shall park in the back', 'you shall provide parking on the side'," Atkinson said.
The council will not vote on the changes until its June 7 meeting. Atkinson said he encourage feedback both from the council and the public on the codes.
The changes will be made to most of the articles of the ordinance, impacting a number of items including:
- Definitions for new types of alcohol stores recently added in the city's updated alcohol ordinance such as growlers and package stores
- Building access and driveways
- Parking
- The city's design review process
- Signs
Atkinson said updating the ordinance has been a goal of his since he was named the city's planning director in September of 2016.
"I started to mark up the zoning ordinance the day I began here," Atkinson said. "I basically just closed my door and re-did this in a two week period."
A set of links to the various documents with proposed changes can be found on the city's website.
