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Royston council reviews proposed zoning-code changes to housing size, density, lighting and procedures
Summary
In a Feb. 10 work session the Royston City Council reviewed proposed zoning-code amendments including lowering R-2 minimum heated square footage, reducing allowable units-per-acre in R-2, adding landscaping and lighting rules for business zones, and aligning public hearing procedures with state law.
The Royston City Council reconvened after a short recess on Feb. 10 for a work session on potential updates to the city’s Zoning Ordinance. City Manager Lanier Dunn presented a bundle of proposed amendments affecting residential and business zones and administrative procedures.
Residential changes proposed include requiring "heated square footage" as the basis for minimum size calculations, lowering the R-2 minimum heated square footage for single-family detached dwellings from 1,200 to 1,000 square feet, reducing the allowed number of residential units per acre in R-2 from 6.0 to 4.0, and adding the phrase "and fraction thereof" to per-acre calculations. The city also proposed adding dimensional requirements to the Central Business District to match R-2 standards, removing a vague line for "Other uses not shown on this table," and repealing Section 370 ("Tiny House") and Section 319 ("Condominium").
Proposals for business zones would add landscaping requirements for new construction, adopt exterior-lighting regulations to reduce glare and light pollution, tighten rules for outdoor merchandise storage and display, and remove the allowance for worship centers in Residential zones and the Central Business District. The draft would add parking and equivalency requirements for donation centers and daycares associated with worship centers.
On administrative procedures, staff proposed removing the second public hearing requirement and changing the public-hearing sign-notice rules to align with existing state law. The work session record in the minutes does not show final votes; these are presented as proposed amendments for further council consideration and potential ordinance drafting.
Council discussion at the meeting focused on the specific text changes listed by staff; the minutes record each numbered proposal but do not show edits, public comment, or a schedule for formal introduction or adoption. Additional review and drafting will be required before any formal ordinance is scheduled for first reading.
