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Rome ZBA applies rural‑residential dimensional standards to 11 Dawn Drive lots in airport approach district
Summary
The zoning board interpreted the code May 7, 2025 to apply Rural Residential dimensional standards (table 80‑6‑1) to 11 pre‑existing Dawn Drive parcels where airport‑approach setbacks left buildable areas smaller than 24 feet, enabling reasonable residential development.
The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals on May 7, 2025 voted to apply the city's Rural Residential (RR) dimensional standards to 11 preexisting nonconforming lots on Dawn Drive that fall inside the Airport Approach District and whose buildable areas would otherwise be less than 24 feet wide after required offsets.
City codes staff explained the background: the subdivision at the end of Dawn Drive was created in 1959–1961 when lots were substantially smaller than the later-adopted Airport Approach (AA) District, which assumes a minimum five-acre lot and requires large front and side setbacks. When the 40-foot front and 30-foot side offsets required by the AA district were applied to those historic lots, the resulting “buildable area” for several parcels was less than 24 feet. Under the zoning code, the board of appeals may set reasonable setbacks and dimensional standards in such cases to permit development.
A surveyor (Jeff Moore) prepared offsets showing how the AA setbacks reduced buildable widths on the undersized lots. Resident Lori Noon asked whether the three existing homes on Dawn Drive would be affected; staff and board members responded that the interpretation applies only to vacant preexisting lots and that existing homes were not impacted. Board members discussed a competing proposal to apply R‑18 standards (which was defeated) and debated front-yard setback distances, side-yard widths and maximum lot coverage. After discussion the board adopted a motion to use RR dimensional standards (table 80‑6‑1) — including side-yard and lot-coverage rules — for the 11 parcels, with the intent of producing setbacks consistent with the surrounding neighborhood and creating buildable area on historically small parcels.
The interpretation was framed as a dimensional standard-setting action; it does not change allowed uses on the lots. Staff said applicants who wish to build will still need to file for permits and show compliance with any other applicable development rules.
