Commissioners approve poultry text amendment; county attorneys to clarify foundation-survey wording

The Troup County Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission voted to forward a set of text amendments on poultry and a proposed foundation-survey requirement to the Board of Commissioners after discussion and public remarks. Staff reintroduced the amendments, saying the commercial-poultry language was being restored to match the county's prior ordinance.

A resident urged that poultry remain classified as an agricultural use rather than being shifted to light or heavy industrial zoning, arguing rezoning could significantly raise property taxes: "I strongly feel that it should be left in agriculture because it is agricultural function," the resident said. Staff and commissioners debated the draft foundation-survey wording: whether "within 50% of any required setback" refers to distance from the setback line or the property line and whether the phrase effectively means adding 50% or multiplying by 1.5. One staff member recommended checking with county attorney Mark DeJenero for a legal interpretation. Ultimately the board approved the text amendment and added direction that county attorneys further define the foundation-survey language before the measure goes to the commissioners.

During the discussion staff distinguished between personal farm chickens (allowed in agricultural zoning) and large commercial poultry operations, saying the latter historically required heavier zoning because of higher neighbor impacts. The board's approval carries the instruction that legal language be clarified and returned to the Board of Commissioners for final action.