Planning commission recommends approval of ninth UDO text amendment; staff to consider additional safety and street additions

The Paulding County Planning Commission on April 22 recommended approval, 4‑0‑1, of the ninth text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The proposed ordinance updates multiple UDO sections: definitions, the NPR (master plan residential) district, the R‑55 active adult residential district, corridor overlay rules, dimensional standards, off‑street parking, and planning commission procedures. The recommendation is advisory; final adoption rests with the Board of Commissioners.

Planning staff told commissioners the amendment adds definitions (building setback line, garage side entry, traffic impact analysis, traffic memo), revises definitions such as accessory structure and breeder (the draft limits breeders to a maximum of two litters per year), and aligns language between the UDO and the county’s development regulations. Major changes in the NPR district include raising the minimum heated living area from 1,800 to 2,400 square feet, removing townhouse dwellings from permitted uses, increasing the minimum front yard setback from 25 to 35 feet, and adding architectural and landscaping requirements (allowed exterior wall materials, minimum roof types, a 24‑inch brick or stone water table, a required rear deck/porch/patio of at least 100 square feet, and a sod requirement for front and side yards prior to certificate of occupancy).

For the R‑55 district, staff recommended increasing minimum lot size from 8,000 to 12,000 square feet and setting minimum lot width at the building line to 75 feet, with a 35‑foot front yard setback and a 20‑foot rear yard setback. The draft also updates the county’s corridor overlay list — clarifying that US‑278 is also Windy Bagwell Parkway and Rockmart Highway and proposing additions including Brownsville Road, Dabsbridge Road, Goldmine Road, Gulledge Road, Harmony Grove Church Road, Harmony Grove Extension, Mulberry Rock Road, Old Cartersville Road, and Sweetwater Church Road — and adds a requirement that a building’s front facade face a public street and that loading docks, overhead doors, trash bins and similar features not be placed on facades that face public streets.

Staff said the amendment also defines the contents of a traffic memo in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Transportation, removes requirements that no longer apply when townhouse dwelling units are struck from NPR, and updates the UDO appendix to summarize adopted changes. The amendment package was described as a product of the moratorium adopted by the Board of Commissioners in January and follow‑up staff review.

During public discussion commissioners raised additional topics they want staff to study for possible inclusion in a later amendment: requiring bell‑type (low‑frequency) alarms and single kitchen sprinklers in R‑55 to improve safety for older residents; consideration of bollards or protective columns at commercial building entrances to reduce vehicle intrusion risk; setting maximum animal counts for breeders to address sanitation; and traffic improvements such as roundabouts for developments over 100 homes. Staff said some of those items need coordination with animal control, building inspection and the fire marshal and may be better addressed in the May amendment package or by future text amendments. Commissioner Wicks moved approval of the draft with staff review of additional items discussed; Commissioner Callahan seconded. The planning commission recorded a recommendation to approve as drafted, 4‑0‑1.

The recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for public hearing and final action.