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Commission adopts buffer amendment to UDO: 100-foot undisturbed plus 50-foot disturbed (to be replanted)
Summary
Paulding County commissioners voted to approve a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance setting a 100-foot undisturbed buffer with a 50-foot disturbed/planted allowance (effectively a 150-foot buffer with planting requirements) after staff and commissioner discussion about fire lanes and practical planting requirements.
The Paulding County Board of Commissioners approved a Unified Development Ordinance text amendment (Ordinance 26-02) adjusting buffer rules at its April 14 meeting.
Commissioner Littman presented an alternative to the planning commission's recommended language, suggesting a buffer requirement with a minimum 150 feet where the first 100 feet remain undisturbed except for approved fencing, access and utilities, and the remaining 50 feet allowed to be disturbed but required to be replanted per the ordinance. Littman and other commissioners discussed how required fire lanes and planting requirements affect practical buffer width and sightlines. Staff confirmed that if neither the planning commission recommendation (200 feet undisturbed adjacent to residential properties) nor the alternative passed, the code would remain at its current 100-foot standard.
After questions and clarification from commissioners and staff about the vegetation and replanted-disturbance rules, a motion to approve the 100-foot undisturbed with 50-foot disturbed and replanted alternative carried on a voice vote. The ordinance change was adopted consistent with the motion on the floor; staff said the ordinance language would be updated in the UDO appendix and applied in future rezoning and development reviews.
Commissioners emphasized the balance between protecting residential buffers and allowing certain development options; the action modifies one segment of the UDO but does not change density or permitted uses for specific parcels without separate rezoning approvals.
