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Statham City staff seek short extension of light‑industrial moratorium as local owners warn of delays
Summary
City staff proposed a short extension of a moratorium on light‑industrial permits to meet state notice rules; two business owners told the council the pause has stalled property sales and construction and alleged long permitting delays and sharp sewer‑tap fee increases.
Statham City staff told the council March 4 they plan to seek a short extension of a moratorium on zoning permits for light‑industrial (LI) uses so the city can meet state advertising and hearing requirements before adopting amendments to the unified development code.
The extension would be a brief administrative step to allow a March 18 first reading of the draft ordinance and to schedule a public hearing at the end of March (staff said March 28 or March 31 are under consideration). Staff emphasized the city charter requires two readings of any ordinance and that the extension would preserve the council’s ability to comply with state timelines.
Why it matters: the moratorium has frozen permitting for LI properties while the council reviews Table 2.1 of the development code. Local property owners and their representatives told the council the moratorium’s timing has real economic consequences.
“I purchased the property in 2023… it went from $6,000 to $15,000 to tap into the sewer, within a year's time,” said Grama Holcomb, who identified herself as a Statham pest‑control business owner during public comment. Holcomb told the council she experienced months of unreturned emails and delays in permit review and said her lawyer advised she present the council with documentation before pursuing legal action.
Dave Shockley, a commercial real‑estate broker, said he represents a buyer and seller for a 23.87‑acre LI parcel whose contract and relocation plans are effectively on hold because of the moratorium. “We just had to freeze everything for 90 days pending your decisions,” Shockley said, adding the buyer is willing to accept setbacks or other conditions but needs certainty to proceed. Staff offered to email the draft ordinance to interested parties.
No vote was taken on March 4. Staff said they will place the draft ordinance on the March 18 agenda for a first reading (nonvoting discussion is expected that night) and pursue a properly noticed public hearing before any final vote.
What’s next: staff recommended extending the moratorium through March 31 to permit public notice and to schedule a special called meeting for a public hearing and vote. The council did not adopt the extension at this meeting; the item is scheduled for follow‑up at the March 18 voting session and a subsequent public hearing at the end of March.
