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Buford Commission confirms leadership, adopts fence rule change and enacts moratorium on smoke shops
Summary
The commission reorganized leadership for 2025, amended the zoning ordinance to let staff approve front-yard fences, set election qualifying fees, approved membership dues and a 120-day moratorium on smoke and vape shop permits, and reappointed a Planning & Zoning board member.
At its Jan. 6 meeting, the Buford City Commission handled organizational and regulatory business, confirming leadership for 2025 and moving to change administrative approval procedures for fences while enacting a temporary moratorium on smoke and vape shops.
Chairman Phillip Beard called the meeting to order and announced he would step down as chairman; the commission then nominated Phillip Beard as Commission Chairman for 2025. The nomination vote shows Commissioner Beard abstained from that resolution while it passed with two votes in favor and one abstention. The commission also nominated Chris Burge as Vice-Chairman (Burge abstained from that nomination) and appointed department heads for 2025, with Mr. Burge abstaining from votes on appointments for Recreation Director and Water Plant Superintendent.
The commission voted unanimously to amend Article VII, Section 700 of the City of Buford Zoning Ordinance (ZA-24-02) to authorize staff, rather than the Zoning Board of Appeals, to approve installation of fences and walls in front yards for both residential and non-residential properties. The change delegates a procedural review to city staff and directs the Planning Department to update administrative processes accordingly.
On regulatory measures, commissioners approved a 120-day moratorium on permits for smoke shops, vape shops and similar businesses. The commission also set qualifying fees for the 2025 municipal election and approved an annual membership payment of $7,316.80 to the Georgia Municipal Association. Robert Perkins was reappointed to the Planning & Zoning Board.
The actions were taken by recorded motions and votes; where commissioners abstained from votes the minutes record those abstentions. The meeting proceeded to contract and capital items after completion of the governance business.
The commission closed the governance matters and moved to contract approvals and project payments later in the agenda.
