Statham City Council approves moratorium on light-industrial development, tables Railroad Street rezoning

STATHAM, Ga. —Dec. 17, 2024—The Statham City Council on Tuesday approved a temporary moratorium on new development in the city's light-industrial (LI) zoning district and took several additional routine actions, including tabling a Railroad Street rezoning request and confirming appointments to the tree committee.

The council voted by voice on a motion to impose the moratorium in the LI zone. A council member moved to approve the moratorium and another council member seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. The council also voted to table the rezone application for 1862 Railroad Street until the Feb. 4, 2025 work session.

Why it matters: The moratorium pauses approvals for certain industrial development in the LI district while the city reviews zoning standards and impacts. Council members also approved an ordinance amending section 12-21 (the tree-committee ordinance) as amended and adopted an ordinance establishing financial-institution business regulations.

Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes of Dec. 3, 2024: moved by a council member, seconded by a council member; approved by voice vote. - Table 1862 Railroad Street rezone: moved by a council member; seconded; tabled to Feb. 4, 2025. - Accept Arbor Day Proclamation: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Appoint tree-committee members for 2025'026 (nominations recited by a council member): "Chairman Tim Torelli, Christine Bogenreiter, Shannon Patterson, Bridal Duncan, Britney Duncan, Mickey Smith"; motion approved by voice vote. - Approve ordinance amending section 12-21 (tree committee), as amended: motion approved by voice vote. - Approve ordinance establishing financial-institution business regulations: motion approved by voice vote. - Approve moratorium on developments in LI zone: motion approved by voice vote. - Adjournment: motion approved.

Council procedure and agenda correction: During consideration of the ordinance to amend section 12-21 a council participant identified as Jody told the council that item 4.4 had been added to the agenda in error and should not be discussed or voted on. Jody also noted a revised version of the ordinance had been circulated and asked that any approving motion specify "as amended." The council proceeded after that clarification.

Mayor's remarks: The mayor delivered end-of-year remarks recounting infrastructure and community projects. "It has been a very, very busy, busy year," the mayor said, and noted the city had received $335,084 through Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) grant programs. The mayor said the funds helped pave Hammond Road and Dewey Town Road and that $30,000 went toward repairing a collapsed pipe on Sunset Drive. The mayor also said flashing crosswalk lights and new striping are planned for downtown and that three roads are slated for work in 2025.

The mayor highlighted renovations at the city's three community centers: Statham Community Center received a new audio system, a larger kitchen and replaced sewer pipes; Robert Bridges Community Center added interior walls, an inside bathroom and a new kitchen; and Hillman Rainwater Community Center received a new roof, heating and air-conditioning, flooring and kitchen upgrades. The mayor also described City Hall repairs after termite damage, new office space for staff, renewed ball-field rental revenue and efforts by Public Works to auction surplus equipment.

What's next: The Railroad Street rezoning request (1862 Railroad Street) is tabled to the Feb. 4, 2025 work session for further consideration. No other deadlines or follow-up reports were specified during the meeting.

Attributions: Direct quotes and statements in this story are attributed to speakers who appear in the public transcript: the mayor (identified by role in the transcript), Jody (staff), and council members who made motions and seconded them. Where the transcript did not give a speaker's name, this story refers to that person by role (for example, "a council member").