Dawsonville council adopts zoning amendment tightening permitted uses, clarifying residential square footage

The Dawsonville City Council adopted on second reading an ordinance amending the city's zoning code to remove certain convenience food and retail uses from permitted uses in the town business/historical district and to clarify how residential square footage is defined.

City Attorney Kevin Tallent introduced the ordinance at the March 17 meeting, saying it “removes the following from a permitted use in the town business, otherwise, our historical district: convenience, food, and retail stores with or without gasoline sales,” and that it clarifies residential square footage to mean finished square feet, whether heated or air-conditioned. The amendment also reserves a numbering slot (number 11) so the ordinance does not require renumbering other provisions.

Council member Mills made a motion to approve the ordinance “as presented,” seconded by Council member French. The council voted to adopt the ordinance on second reading with no public comments recorded on the item.

The change alters permitted uses in the town business/historical district and creates a formal definition that when an applicant supplies a square-foot figure for a residential building the city will deem that to mean finished living area. No specific effective date other than adoption was announced at the meeting; staff may publish the ordinance text and effective date through the usual municipal channels.