Full Text
Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet This application packet contains information required to submit a change in Land Use (zoning) category. Please review the Comprehensive Plan and Character Area available on the county web page. Pre-application meeting prior to any submittal a. Any person considering submitting a rezoning or special use application for a proposed residential development of 50 units or more, as well as a proposed commercial or industrial development, shall first hold a meeting with the community development director or his or her designee prior to submitting such application. Please see page 2 and 3 for the Community information and input meeting is required. To avoid unnecessary delays, be sure the application is complete. Incomplete applications without all required attachments and information cannot be processed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to attend all Public Hearings and be able to answer any questions regarding the request. If you are uncomfortable in this role, you may want to seek the help of a lawyer, surveyor or other professional. There are two meetings which require attendance by the applicant or an assigned representative, the first meeting is the Planning Commission Meeting held at 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month; and the second meeting is held with the Board of Commissioners who hold the Voting Session, (four weeks after the planning Commission meeting). This session is held immediately after the Work Session which starts at 4:00 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Please check the website for dates and times Failure of the applicant or their authorized representative to appear at any required meeting shall be grounds for the application to be deemed abandoned and subject to dismissal, unless the applicant provides written justification demonstrating just cause—such as verified health issues —within a reasonable time following the missed meeting. This notice is also intended to inform and encourage interested citizens to make arrangements to attend and participate in the scheduled meeting. This is an interactive PDF; which means you may select (click) web sites and email contacts. • Send completed applications to: Leah Prichard - [EMAIL REDACTED] • Code and performance standards can be found on Municode.com • Character Area Map is found on the Dawson County GIS web link. • Comprehensive Plan (2023) is found on line on the Community Development web page. Dawson County, GA I Official Website ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 2 I P a g e Application Requirements & Checklist Review the DRI thresholds attached as the last page to this packet. A completed application for an amendment to the land use (zoning district) map must include the following: Pre-application Meeting. Completed Application. o Property Owner Authorization. (if you are not the property owner) o A copy of the recorded plat of the property. (Obtained from the Clerk of Court) o Signed Notice of Residential Exurban/Agricultural District (R-A) Adjacency form (if applicable) Letter of Intent; this should be a complete explanation of your proposal. Adjoining Property Owner information. (Tax Assessor’s website) o Notification Letters (see page 3 for explanation) Survey of the property - be sure the recorded plat matches the parcel to be zoned; if the survey does not match or is of poor technical quality an updated survey is required. Site plan drawn to scale with any proposed structures; Setbacks and Landscaping. Letter from the Environmental Health Department regarding on-site septic. Application fee will be calculated at time of submittal. o A check or money order must be submitted with the application by the deadline (12:00 p.m. on the due date). Self-help websites for needed documents • Letter from Environmental Health Department for review of septic; 189 Hwy. 53 W, Suite 102; (706) 265-2930; Environmental Health I Dawson County, GA • Recorded Plat of the property (Clerk of the Court); 25 Justice Way, Suite 1302; (706) 344-3510; http://www.dawsonclerkofcourt.net/ • Paid tax receipt for most current year (Tax Commissioner’s office); 25 Justice Way, Suite 1222; (706) 344-3520; Fees Variance $350.00 Rezoning – to RPC, RT, CRB, CCB $700.00 Appeals $300.00 Rezoning – to CHB, COI, CIR, MUV, RS2 $3,500.00 Rezoning – to RA, RRE $250.00 Special Use Permits (Based on current zoning district) Rezoning – to RL, RSR, $300.00 Rezoning – to RMHP $350.00 ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet When is a community information and input meeting required? Sec. 121-309. - Purpose, Pre-application meeting, and Community information and input meetings. Applicability: This requirement applies only to rezoning applications for residential developments of 50 or more units. Failure to comply with these community meeting requirements may result in staff requesting a postponement of the case until compliance is demonstrated. Purpose: The purpose of the Community Information and Input Meeting is to promote early and effective communication between the applicant and nearby property owners or interested citizens. This meeting allows the public to: • Gain a clear understanding of the proposed rezoning request; and • Discuss potential impacts and ways to mitigate them. The goal is to encourage open, fair, and honest dialogue between the applicant and community members, fostering collaboration to refine the proposal in a way that minimizes negative effects on the surrounding area. Scheduling Requirements: Community meetings may not be scheduled: • On weekends; • On a regularly scheduled Planning Commission or Board of Commissioners meeting date; • On any holiday recognized by the Board of Commissioners; • Between the Monday prior to Thanksgiving Day and the following Sunday; or • Between December 20th and January 3rd. All meetings must begin no earlier than 6:00 PM. Notification Requirements: • Notification letters must be mailed by certificate of mailing at least 15 days prior to the scheduled meeting. • Copies of the certificates must be submitted with the rezoning application. • Notification letters must be sent to all property owners within 500 feet of the legal boundary of the subject property. Meeting Protocol: 1. Location: a. The meeting must be held at a public facility located within a five-mile radius of the subject property. b. If no suitable facility is available, the applicant may propose an alternate location, subject to approval by the Community Development Director or their designee before mailing the notifications. 2. Format: a. The applicant or an authorized representative must be available to answer questions for at least 30 minutes. b. A brief presentation of the proposed project is encouraged. ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 4 I P a g e 3. Materials to Provide: The following materials must be available for public viewing at the meeting: a. A Dawson County Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map showing the subject property and nearby areas. b. The proposed concept site plan. c. Contact information for the applicant or authorized representative. d. Contact information for the Dawson County Community Development Department. Post-Meeting Summary After the meeting, the applicant must submit a written summary report detailing the results of the community information and input meeting. This report, along with copies of all certificates of mailing, must be submitted to the Community Development Department for inclusion with the rezoning application. Sec. 121-310. - Authorization to initiate amendments and limitation on number of applications. The request by a property owner for an amendment shall be accomplished by filing an application with the county using forms prescribed by the county. There shall be a maximum of one residential development rezoning that includes 50 or more units allowed per month. There shall be a maximum total of five rezoning and special use applications allowed to be heard by the Planning Commission per month. This number shall not include variance applications, which are also heard by the Planning Commission. All applications for amendments shall first be reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall conduct a public hearing in accordance with the Georgia Zoning Procedures Law, as amended. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission's recommendation and draft meeting minutes shall be provided in writing to the Board of Commissioners. ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 5 I P a g e Application Requirements & Checklist A short summary of the proposed use: Contact Information: Contact Name: Email: Phone Number: Address: Suite: City: State: Zip Code: Subject Property Information: Address: Parcel Number: Number of Acres: Current Zoning: Proposed Zoning: Current Use: This Application Is For (Check All That Apply) Appeal of Administrative Decision Master Plan Review - MUV Rezoning (Land Use change) Amendment of Master Plan Special Use Amendment of Stipulations If Other Please Explain: ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 6 I P a g e Letter of Intent Applicant's Request (Letter of Intent): (or attach the write up) ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 7 I P a g e Applicant Certification I hereby request the action contained within this application relative to the property shown on the attached survey, plat, and site plan and further request that this item be placed on both the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners agenda(s) for a public hearing. I understand that the Planning staff may either accept or reject my request upon review. My request will be rejected if all the necessary data is not presented. The staff will send notices to adjacent property owners advising of the request and proposed use prior to the public hearing. I understand that I have the obligation to present all data necessary and required by code to enable the Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners to make an informed determination on my request. I will seek the advice of a land use professional if I am not familiar with the zoning and land use requirements. I understand that my request will be acted upon at the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioner hearings and that I am required to be present or to be represented by someone able to present all facts. I understand that failure to appear at a public hearing may result in the postponement or denial of my rezoning or special use application. I further understand that it is my responsibility to be aware of relevant public hearing dates and times regardless of notification from Dawson County. I hereby certify that I have read the above and that the above information as well as the attached information is true and correct. Applicant Signature: Date: Witness: Date: ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 8 I P a g e Property Owner Authorization I/we, hereby swear that I/we own the property located at (fill in address and/or tax map parcel Street Address of Property being rezoned: TMP#: , as shown in the tax maps and/or deed records of Dawson County, Georgia, and which parcel or parcels will be affected by this request. I hereby authorize the person named below to act as the applicant or agent in pursuit of the rezoning requested on this property. I understand that any rezone granted, and/or conditions stipulations placed on the property will be binding upon the property regardless of ownership. The under signer below is authorized to make this application. Print Name of Applicant or Agent: Signature of Applicant or Agent: Date: Printed Name of Owner(s): Signature of Owner(s): Date: Address: Suite: City: State: Zip Code: Phone (Listed/Unlisted): Sworn and subscribed before me this day of , 20 . Notary Signature: My Commission Expires: {Notary Seal} ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 9 I P a g e List of Adjacent Property Owners Property Owner List o Provide names and addresses of all adjacent and adjoining property owners per county tax assessor’s records as of the date of the application. o Attach additional sheets if necessary. Notification Letters o Use the forms provided by the Community Development Department and reviewed by county staff. o Mail letters by Certificate of Mailing to all adjacent and adjoining property owners. o Notice must: Describe the requested administrative adjustment. State that interested parties have 15 days from the date of mailing to file an appeal of the decision. Proof of Mailing o Submit proof of Certificate of Mailing to the Community Development Department. Name Address TMP - 1. TMP - 2. TMP - 3. TMP - 4. TMP - 5. TMP - 6. TMP - 7. TMP - 8. ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 10 I P a g e Notice of Residential Exurban/Agricultural District (R-A) Adjacency Agricultural districts include uses of land primarily for active farming activities and result in odors, noise, dust and other effects, which may not be compatible with adjacent development. Future abutting developers in non- R A land use districts shall be provided with this “Notice of RA Adjacency” prior to administrative action on either the land use district or the issuance of a building or occupancy permit. Prior to administrative action the applicant shall be required to sign this waiver which indicates that the applicant understands that a use is ongoing adjacent to his use which will produce odors, noise, dust and other effects which may not be compatible with the applicant’s development. Nevertheless, understanding the effects of the adjacent RA use, the applicant agrees by executing this form to waive any objection to those effects and understands that his district change and/or his permits are issued and processed in reliance on his agreement not to bring any action asserting that the adjacent uses in the RA district constitute a nuisance) against local governments and adjoining landowners whose property is located in an RA district. This notice and acknowledgment shall be public record. Applicant Signature: Applicant Printed Name: Date: Sworn and subscribed before me this day of , 20 . Notary Signature: My Commission Expires: {Notary Seal} ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 11 I P a g e Disclosure of Campaign Contributions (Applicant(s) and Representative(s) of Rezoning) Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 36-67 A-3.A, the following disclosure is mandatory when an applicant or any representation of application for rezoning has been made within two years immediately preceding the filing of the applicant’s request for rezoning, campaign contributions aggregating $250.00 or more to a local government official who will consider the application for rezoning. It shall be the duty of the applicant and the attorney representing the applicant to file a disclosure with the governing authority of the respective local government showing the following: 1. Name of local official to whom campaign contribution was made: 2. The dollar amount and description of each campaign contribution made by the opponent to the local government official during the two years immediately preceding the filing of the application for the rezoning action and the date of each such contribution. Amount Date: Enumeration and description of each gift when the total value of all gifts is $250.00 or more made to the local government official during the two years immediately preceding the filing of application for rezoning: Signature of Applicant/Representative of Applicant Date By Not Completing This Form You Are Making a Statement That No Disclosure Is Required. This form maybe copied for each applicant. Please attached sheets if needed. ---PAGE BREAK--- Dawson County Rezoning Application Packet 12 I P a g e Example: Letter of Intent Section to be completed on Page 3 The Applicant proposes to develop approximately 12,000 square feet of logistics on the property. The Proposed Use will include 40 parking spaces, and two loading docks. Thirty-five percent of the property will not be disturbed. The Applicant is a private services corporation, that supplies services to a large area in Georgia. To facilitate its operations, the Applicant seeks to develop and operate a customer service and operations office with construction and maintenance staging areas. Staging areas will include outside storage for fleet vehicles and other small equipment necessary for utilities operations. The Applicant will provide buffering and enhanced landscaping strips to provide suitable transitions to surrounding residential and agricultural uses. A 30-foot landscape strip will be planted along the right-of- way. Water, sanitary sewer, gas and electricity are available to the Subject Property. The impact on public utilities is anticipated to be minimal. The Applicant will install underground utility lines within the development to serve the project on an as needed basis. The development's water and sanitary sewage utilities will be provided by the Etowah Water & Sewer Authority. There will be no manufacturing on site or dust, smoke or odors, or outside storage of materials. There will be approximately 15 employees. Construction will commence (enter dates)