CDS reports 2025: more rezonings, subdivisions and $1.6M in impact fees

Jennifer Jones, who identified herself as representing Community Development Services, told the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners that CDS handled an active 2025. "In 2025, CDS had 67 pre application meetings," Jones said, adding that about 28 of those became community meetings and roughly 47 formal applications were submitted.

Jones summarized public engagement and enforcement activity: "We held 61 public hearings," she said, and said CDS conducted 58 investigations in 2025 that resulted in 49 violations. She highlighted land-use outcomes: eight zone changes were approved that together covered "over 653 acres," more than 80% rezoned to AR or RA designations (10-acre minimum lots), one planned-unit development of 112 acres, and two small lots rezoned to R2. Jones also said CDS approved eight subdivision plats in 2025, the largest being Independence Filing 5 with 162 residential lots.

On permitting and fees, Jones said CDS reviewed 580 permits of various types and collected impact fees on 292 of those permits, totaling "over $1,600,000." She said impact-fee revenue supports transportation and Sheriff’s Office needs among other recipients. The department also presented the county’s updated 2026 zoning map that incorporates 2025 zoning decisions and showed that, after removing roughly 10 square miles of unzoned roadways, over 95% of county land remains zoned agriculture (about 1,100,000 acres).

Commissioners praised the breadth of work and asked for the report to be provided to the board in writing. The presentation included requests for improved compliance reporting next year and a reminder that many approvals are unique and involve differing infrastructure and security requirements. Jones said CDS will continue to refine internal processes and coordination with the assessor and other offices.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; staff will circulate the written report requested by commissioners.