On Sept. 8, the Blairsville City Council held a first reading of new development regulations in response to growth and public safety concerns, as well as created a code enforcement position to handle ordinance violations, with particular concern for accumulated junk on properties in town.
Blairsville currently has few development regulations and zero subdivision regulations, though there is a moratorium in place regarding development of lots greater than 1 acre while the city establishes its new Development Ordinance.
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Fewer regulations mean less city control over development. Without regulations, for example, a developer could put dozens of tiny homes on a single acre; build a neighborhood with streets too small for fire trucks; or erect a subdivision that is too large for local infrastructure.
But those scenarios – and many others – won’t be possible if the council adopts all of the regulations in the proposed ordinance.
Based on council feedback over the last couple months, City Attorney Marvin Harkins presented two regulatory options, the first being what he referred to as a “Pinto” version that consists of seven pages of basic “need-to” development regulations.
Highlights from this version include the introduction of permitting for larger building projects; a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet, or roughly 1/3 acre, for development of lots served by city sewer; a building height maximum of 40 feet for fire safety; and per-lot housing limits.
In terms of housing, “no more than one dwelling on a single lot shall be permitted, with the exception of two-family dwellings (duplexes), multifamily dwellings and condominiums.” Condominiums and multifamily will be restricted to a maximum of three dwelling units per lot.
Harkins also presented the 30-page “Exhibit A” as a “Cadillac” option for additional regulations specifically for subdivision development, which touches on everything from street lighting to sidewalks, curb cuts, street widths, drainage, cul-de-sacs, water supply, easements, etc.
The more expansive set of regulations will require subdivision developers to turn in preliminary plats, engineered drawings, amendments and final plats for compliance review and, ultimately, approval by City Council.
At Harkins’ request, Nora Combs of Union County Building & Development attended to discuss the regulations before the first reading. She does not foresee many developments happening inside city limits due to limited land availability but recommended the council get something in place.
Council members and the mayor appeared to be leaning toward the more robust version of the ordinance last week, expressing a desire to get ahead of area growth with common-sense regulations that protect the public and overall character of the city.
“We don’t want to get caught without the proper infrastructure (for new development), be it roads or water,” Moore said by way of example. “The way it was before, we didn’t have any input on that. We just want to help plan ahead.”
Harkins took feedback in the called work session and regular meeting that were held back-to-back Sept. 8, and he will be incorporating changes for a second reading in October. Final adoption is expected before the development moratorium expires in mid-November.
Prior to adoption, City Hall welcomes all developers and the public to review the proposed regulations and submit comments for potential inclusion in the final ordinance.
Broached by Mayor Moore in the work session, the city is actively involved in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, and conversations about promoting workforce housing within the confines of any news regulations will be ongoing.
In other business, the council voted to create a new code enforcement officer position with a mandate to enforce all municipal codes. It’s a hybrid position; the new officer will work part-time enforcing city ordinances and part-time as a city police officer.
“The thing with code enforcement that we’ve run into is the follow-up part of it,” Blairsville Police Chief Michael “Bear” Baxter said. “Honestly, we could do it, but it takes a lot of time off (an officer) doing regular policework.”
Chief Baxter has a good candidate in mind for the new position – a seasoned professional with decades of law enforcement experience – and Mayor Moore said they will be reaching out to see if he wants the job.
The position comes after recent interest from the council in greater code enforcement, Moore said, with abandoned vehicles and other large junk being of particular concern. A dedicated code enforcement officer will make it easier to hold violators accountable for cleaning up their junk.
Also Sept. 8, former mayor Jim Conley offered the prayer to start the regular city meeting, and Councilwoman Mary Ruth Cook led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
