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Elbert County planning commission discusses process to draft zoning regulation updates
Summary
County attorney and planning staff described a multi-step process to draft and circulate proposed zoning regulation changes, including producing redlines, public notice and separate consideration of each proposed change.
The Elbert County Planning Commission on May 6 heard a staff outline of how the county will prepare and publicly vet proposed updates to zoning regulations.
County Attorney (unnamed) told commissioners that preparing draft language is important before the commission votes: "having in draft form...allows the public an opportunity to review potential changes and an opportunity to be heard." He said draft language also helps the Board of County Commissioners and the public understand the specific effects of proposed edits and the cross-references that often must be updated.
Planning staff and the county attorney said the process will include: identifying all regulation sections that reference a proposed change, preparing redlined drafts, posting drafts for public review, and forwarding the planning commission's recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The county attorney added that more comprehensive updates will likely require outside consultants who specialize in regulatory rewrites.
Commissioners pressed staff on timing and the record the county is using to guide the updates. One commissioner asked whether the county was relying on local regulations or state law; the county attorney said staff had reviewed applicable statutes and case law and that the Elbert County Zoning Regulations contain specific procedures for amendments, including a 30-day public-notice requirement in some cases. Commissioners asked for a timeline and asked staff to return with draft redlines for the simpler amendments and a plan for when consultant assistance would be sought for more complex changes.
Commissioners also debated whether the working-session material that led to the present discussions should be converted immediately into redline drafts so the planning staff and CDS team can search and validate every cross-reference. Staff agreed that drafting early could speed up the process and said it will present a timeline based on whether consultants are hired.
The discussion made clear that the county intends to treat most regulation changes as legislative matters that require public notice and an opportunity to comment. Commissioners asked staff to bring an implementation schedule and to show which proposed edits could be advanced quickly and which will require consultant support or more substantial drafting work.
