Council adopts targeted Unified Development Code amendments after months of work; critics call process developer-driven

The Chattahoochee Hills council adopted targeted revisions to Appendix A of the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC) on Aug. 5 in a 3–2 vote after more than a year of drafting and public meetings. Staff said the changes are incremental, largely tighten clustering and preservation rules, and were recommended 6–1 by the planning commission.

Several residents opposed the package during public comment, saying the consultant was handpicked, paid in a way that may have bypassed procurement rules, and produced edits that critics called “developer-driven.” Opponents also pressed the council to address an enduring community concern known as the “20-acre rule,” which limits certain development options; supporters said that the 20-acre rule remains scheduled for broader comp-plan review and that the UDC amendments were narrower fixes to improve clarity and enforcement.

Councilmembers in favor said the amendments clarify standards that already implement the city’s 70/30 preservation model and add protections such as tighter clustering and clearer site-assessment update requirements. The ordinance passed with a 3–2 council vote. The council adoption does not eliminate further opportunities to review larger zoning questions during the planned comprehensive plan update.