Dawson County keeps five-year limit as board approves growth-management changes

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 18 approved proposed text amendments to the county’s Growth Management chapter but explicitly left intact the five-year restriction in Section 133-115 that limits consecutive minor subdivisions. The motion passed 3-0 (Stowers/Turkett).

Community Development Director Richard Osborne told the board there had been community concern about “too [much] subdividing in a quick timeframe” and outlined that the rural subdivision option would not be added while the five-year waiting period would remain. Chairman Billy Thurmond opened the public hearing, heard no public speakers and closed it before the vote.

The retained Section 133-115 language, as recorded in the minutes, states the intent to prohibit “chain” subdivisions designed to avoid major-subdivision requirements and defines a minor subdivision as creating up to four new lots from the original parent parcel, with no more than four lots created from the parent tract within a five-year period. The section also cross-references the county’s plat checklist and the Georgia Plat Act (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-67).

Commissioners thanked staff and citizens who provided input through a community survey. The board’s action was framed as preserving the county’s existing safeguards while approving other, unspecified text edits to the growth-management code. The motion was recorded as Stowers/Turkett and carried unanimously.