Snellville staff preview wide-ranging zoning (UDO) amendments ahead of June 22 first reading

Snellville, Ga. — City planning staff on Monday laid out a broad package of proposed changes to the city's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), saying most of the edits are technical clarifications but that several carry policy implications council should weigh before a first reading on June 22.

"I'm going to go over just very broadly some of the things we're touching," Jason told the mayor and council, recommending members use the red-line packet to see exact wording changes and to contact staff with questions. He said about 70% of the draft comprises definitional and technical edits intended to make the code easier to interpret and enforce.

The package includes numerous specific items council members were asked to review: added and clarified definitions (for items such as cabanas and prefabricated structures), refined applicability for land-disturbance permits to protect undeveloped lots with trees, adjusted permitting thresholds for accessory structures in larger residential districts (allowing certain prefabricated structures below a specified square-foot threshold without a permit, subject to siting rules), and corrected contradictions affecting townhome design to emphasize rear-entry/alley layouts.

Among the more substantial policy shifts, staff proposed removing several residential group-living uses from the RM district and moving from an outright prohibition on behavioral-health or drug-rehab facilities to a conditional approach. Under the draft, such uses would be considered in commercial districts (CI, OP, BG and I) through a special-use-permit process reviewed by the planning commission and, as needed, by the mayor and council on a case-by-case basis.

Staff also recommended technical changes to parking rules to include certain Grove buildings within a 600-foot radius for parking-deck calculations and proposed limiting gym-style uses in the Grove/town center to under 4,500 square feet to favor smaller, walkable local businesses.

Tree protection and lighting were highlighted as areas with tightened standards. Staff described clearer calculations for specimen and heritage trees, stronger replacement requirements and higher fines to discourage avoidable removals; they also proposed an updated lighting ordinance with photometric requirements to limit light trespass into residential areas while allowing appropriately lit commercial corridors.

Staff advised council that a red-line version of the ordinance would be provided before the June 22 meeting so members can compare old and new language. The presentation also noted staff changes: Daniel Smith was identified as the new zoning administrator and a new hire, Esther, was introduced to assist planning.

At the close of the presentation the mayor said the item would be moved forward: council was asked to waive first reading and place the ordinance on the June 22 agenda. The transcript records the motion to waive and place on the June 22 agenda but does not record a roll-call vote in the provided excerpt.

Why it matters: The UDO governs land use and development standards across Snellville and these changes could affect where certain uses are permitted, how infill and redevelopment are regulated, and the day-to-day enforceability of zoning rules. Councilors and staff signaled an intent to focus member attention on the policy elements while streamlining many technical provisions.

Next steps: Staff will circulate the red-line draft in advance of the June 22 meeting for the official first reading and will be available to meet with councilors to walk through specific sections.