Board approves comprehensive design standards for South Forsyth

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved comprehensive design standards for any new commercial development in south Forsyth Thursday, the goal of which is to ensure high-quality new development.

The standards also apply to all redevelopment or expanded sites where more than 25 percent of the disturbed area is affected. Schools, churches, clubs, lodges and instructional studios are exempt. Open houses were held in January and February to present the proposed standards and invite public participation.

New landscape and pedestrian standards require the front landscape (between the road and parking spaces) be 15 feet wide for roads 4-lanes or wider and 8 feet for roads no wider than 2 lanes. Landscape between parking spaces and the store-front sidewalk must be 8 feet. Outdoor amenities such as benches and trash receptacles must be placed every 100 feet.

Parking lots are required to have at least one landscaped island for every 10 parking spaces. At least one electric charging station is required for all parking lots with a minimum of 100 parking spaces.  Nine percent must have a charging infrastructure but no charger.

Fencing material and retaining walls must be constructed of brick, stone or textured concrete and no higher than 20 feet.

Some outdoor displays are prohibited such as tires, automotive parts, kennels, sheds, pre-made structure. Self-storage facilities can be no more than three stories.

With regard to lighting, neon lights and LED lighting around windows are prohibited.

“I’m very pleased with what I see,” said Chairwoman Laura Semanson. “I think it will help drive a better sense of community pride to have all these things working together.”

The Board also unanimously approved motions to:

• Amend Chapters 3, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 21 of the Unified Development Code to allow property owners to keep backyard chickens within certain zoning categories;
• Allow an alternate design at 320 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming to allow conformity to the overlay that was in place when the building was being constructed rather than the current warehouse district;
• A county-Initiated variance request to reduce the wait time to further divide land within a minor subdivision from three years to three days and to reduce the wait time to subdivide property abutting land that has been previously divided as a minor subdivision from three years to three days;
• An amendment of Zoning Conditions on ZA3791 regarding a front porch requirement (Meritage Homes of Georgia, Inc.) by Toll Bros. Inc.
• Extend the moratorium on the receipt of land disturbance permit applications for Res4, Res6, and Res3 multi-family and single-family attached products, to include the possible allowance for certain exceptions from the moratorium.

The Board postponed

• ZA3807, CBD & A1 to MPD;

  The Board took no action on :

• The Forsyth County Tree Protection and Replacement Ordinance, Forsyth County Ordinance 98;
• The Forsyth County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, Forsyth County Ordinance.

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