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Council approves multiple text amendments, fee updates and legal participation; votes at a glance
Summary
Hoschton City Council voted to adopt several text amendments affecting driveway dimensions, sign lighting and sign permit requirements; approved updated permit fees; authorized participation in an amicus brief for Chang v. City of Milton; and approved related resolutions and appointments.
At its regular session the Hoschton City Council voted on a package of zoning and administrative items, adopting several text amendments and related resolutions.
Text amendments adopted (public hearing previously held): - TA-2026-01 (subdivision and land development ordinance, Section 620): added a minimum residential driveway length of 23 feet measured from the back of sidewalk or from the edge of right-of-way where no sidewalk exists. Staff read a recommendation from the planner (Rich Atkinson) supporting the standard; a council member proposed 25 feet but staff opposed the change citing impervious-surface and lot-impact concerns. - TA-2026-02 (signs and advertising devices, lighting): replaced the lighting section with definitions for internal/external/digital illumination, brightness limits, glare control, shielding, hours of illumination and prohibited lighting types (flashing, strobe, emergency-style and exposed neon). - TA-2026-04 (signs and advertising devices, application requirements): clarified application submittal items including owner/installer/property-owner contact, owner signature, fees per fee schedule, parcel number, sign type and placement documentation to reduce incomplete applications.
Separately, TA-2026-03 was introduced and approved to make it unlawful to park where a vehicle obstructs the roadway such that emergency vehicles cannot pass; enforcement authority resides with police and code officers, and a 12-foot clearance standard was discussed by the chief.
Council also approved: - Resolution 2026-14: award of a construction contract for the Barrow County water-supply connection (see separate article). The low bid was $404,400 and staff recommended award to Civil Construction & Utilities (unit-price contract with allowances for unforeseen conditions). - Resolution 2026-11: acceptance of a $10 million GIFA loan originally including $1 million principal forgiveness; staff described plans to draw funds as reimbursements and request principal forgiveness to yield a net payback of $9 million. - Resolution 2026-16: authorization to join an amicus brief in Chang v. City of Milton to protect municipal sovereign-immunity interests. - Resolution 2026-12 and 2026-13: annual updates to building permit and planning/zoning permit fee schedules.
Motions were made, seconded and carried by voice/hand vote for each item; meeting minutes record all motions as carried without individual roll-call vote tallies provided in the transcript.
