Spalding planning commission reviews proposed historic-property preservation ordinance amid objections from property owners

The Spalding County Planning Commission on a special-call meeting reviewed proposed text amendments to the county zoning code to add an “Historic Property Preservation” appendix that would set procedures and limitations for designated historic properties, including minimum preserved acreage, horizontal setbacks and construction standards.

The commission’s staff presenter, David, said the draft ordinance originally required a 10-acre preserved parcel around a designated principal building and a minimum horizontal distance of 300 feet from the principal building to property lines; those requirements were reduced in the draft to a 5-acre minimum and a 200-foot horizontal distance. He also described Section 109, which would add construction guidelines and allow “more leeway” for repairs and renovations so replacements would be similar in appearance rather than exact physical matches.

The changes, David said, were reflected in a revised copy distributed to the commission in red and followed earlier postponement while a pending rezoning for one affected property — described in meeting remarks as the Geyser Home — was resolved.

Why it matters: the ordinance would create a county-level designation process, set use and subdivision constraints for designated properties, establish a review role for the planning commission (functioning as a historic review committee), and create a certificate-of-appropriateness permit process for proposed renovations. That structure could affect future rezoning and development of land that contains or adjoins designated historic buildings.

During the meeting, a participant identified as Newton provided a supplemental draft that fleshed out a designation procedure: application intake, preliminary review by the planning commission acting as the historic review committee, and a recommendation…