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Rockdale commissioners launch zoning text amendments tied to housing, gas stations and other uses
Summary
The board referred multiple Unified Development Ordinance text amendments to the planning commission and signaled intent to use a moratorium to allow ordinance drafting, covering gas stations, discount retailers, vape stores, storage warehouses, short-term rentals and data-center height rules.
Rockdale County commissioners on Feb. 25 voted to send a suite of proposed amendments to the county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to the planning commission for public hearings and revision. The measures were presented together as first readings and include changes aimed at gas stations, small-box discount retailers ("dollar stores"), vape stores, large storage warehouses/self-storage, short-term rentals and data-center height limits.
County staff told the board the changes are part of a strategic effort to address development patterns and to allow the county time to finalize ordinance language while a moratorium is in place. One commissioner said the county is using an existing moratorium window to maximize time for drafting ordinances, and that related moratorium work will come forward "very soon." Staff confirmed a separate 120-day moratorium already exists for certain business-related land-use items.
Highlights of items referred to the planning commission for public hearings and draft revisions include: - Gas stations: proposals to increase minimum distances between service stations and to limit the number of fuel pumps at a single site. - Small-box discount retailers: proposed definitions and supplemental regulations to control locations and concentrations of dollar/discount stores. - Vape stores: proposed definition and supplemental regulations added to permitted-use tables. - Storage warehouses/self-storage: proposed standards and zoning language changes. - Short-term rentals: proposed definitions and supplemental regulations, including a review of watershed-related special districts. - Data centers: proposed amendments addressing data-center heights and supplemental regulations.
Commissioners repeatedly emphasized the desire to curb development patterns they said have produced clustering of certain commercial uses and to give the county more control over where and how specific business types locate. Several public commenters had earlier urged a moratorium on housing to allow ordinance work; commissioners responded that moratoriums and the forthcoming UDO changes are intended to provide regulatory tools.
In addition, commissioners discussed changes to the county's planning structure after the City of Conyers announced it would withdraw from a joint planning commission arrangement; the board said the city's decision leaves the county responsible for separate planning-commission seats and associated appointments.
All the listed UDO text amendments (Items 77'83 and 86'88 in the agenda) were approved for first reading and referral to the planning commission by unanimous voice votes recorded by the clerk. The planning commission will hold public hearings and return recommendations to the board before any final ordinances are adopted.
Commissioners said they plan coordinated public outreach and clarified that draft ordinance language will be available during the planning commission's public-hearing process.
