Newnan council asks staff to add Chalk Lehi and Rocky Hill to historic residential design overlay

The Newnan City Council on June 17 asked staff to draft an amendment to the city's historic residential design overlay to include the Chalk Lehi and Rocky Hill neighborhoods and preserve the certificate-of-appropriateness process for new construction there.

Councilmember Ms. Abrams moved that staff return with an amended historic residential design overlay to include the two neighborhoods; the motion was seconded and carried after brief discussion. Ms. Jenkins asked for clarification of the change's purpose. Ms. Abrams said the overlay would allow the Planning Commission to approve a certificate of appropriateness to determine whether new structures "keep with the character of the neighborhood and [are] not deleterious to the historic character" of those districts.

Council members did not debate specific ordinance language or vote on the amendment itself; they voted only to direct staff to draft the amendment and return it for future consideration. The motion carried on a voice vote with the mayor calling for "ayes." The council added the item to the end of new business for a later meeting when staff returns with proposed text.

The direction preserves the existing local review step that designates whether proposed new construction fits the historic character of registered neighborhoods. The council did not set a timeline for staff to return with the draft amendment or vote on any specific ordinance language.

The amendment will be processed through the Planning Commission and later returned to the council for formal consideration and any vote on ordinance changes.