FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider an amendment to the county ordinance regarding modifications to the Animal Control ordinance when they meet in a regular session with public hearings Thursday (June 16) at 5 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 110 East Main Street in Cumming.

The modifications could establish requirements for offering animals for adoption at pet shops, prohibit the outdoor sale of animals, provide authority for the enforcement of the ordinance, and establish penalties for violations.

The Board is expected to adopt an amendment to the Forsyth County enabling legislation that would allow a BOC member to hold an official position in another municipality that is not within County limits or where the municipality does not share a border with Forsyth County.

Under old business the Board will consider:

• A County-Initiated variance to: 1.) Reduce the exterior buffer from 40 ft. to 20 ft. adjacent to tax map/parcels 130-048 and 130-069 adjacent to the existing driveway only (UDC 16-4.6(C)) – Parcels 130-068 and 130-049 – VA220034;
• Surya Realty LLC  request for ZA4034 to rezone from Agricultural District (A1) to Single Family Residential District (RES3) on 18.30 acres for 26 residential lots with a density of 1.42 units per acre with the following variance to: 1.) Reduce the exterior buffer along the southern and western property boundaries from 25 ft. to 0 ft. (UDC Table 11.2(b)) – Parcels 102-005, 102-075, 102-119, 102-076, and 102-062;
• (3) Toll Brothers, Inc. request for ZA4037 to rezone from Agricultural District (A1) and Single Family Residential Restricted District (R1R) to Single Family Residential District (RES2) Conservation Subdivision on 115.253 acres for 128 residential lots with a density of 1.11 units per acre with the following variances to: 1.) Reduce the minimum building setback from all primary conservation areas for lots 18, 19, 20, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 64, 65, 66, 67, 101, 114, amenity area, and stormwater ponds 1 and 2 from 75 ft. to 0 ft. (UDC 19-5.1(D)); and, 2.) Reduce the minimum number of lots entirely abutted by open space on at least one side from 85% to 70% (UDC 19-5.1(C)) – Parcels 145-073 and 145-021;
• A County-Initiated request to rezone from Agricultural District (A1) to Restricted Industrial District (M1) for industrial buildings totaling approximately 383,281 sq. ft. on 36.761 acres – Parcels 236-029 and 236-093 – ZA4071;

Under New Business, commissioners will consider:

• Long Phan request for a conditional use permit CP210047 to build a 2,000 sq. ft. detached accessory apartment on 0.72 acres zoned Single Family Residential Restricted District (R2R) with the following variances to: 1.) Increase the total floor area of all accessory buildings and structures on a lot from fifty percent (50%) to ninety percent (90%) of the total floor area of the primary building on that same lot (UDC 11-9.7(C)(6)(b)); and, 2.) Reduce the side setback adjacent to tax map/parcel 155-116 from 10 ft. to 5 ft. (UDC Table 11.2(a)) – Parcel 155-115;
• New Heights Academy, Inc. request for a conditional use permit CP220009 to operate a 3,465 sq. ft. private school in an existing building with 19 parking spaces on 5.90 acres currently zoned Commercial Business District (CBD) – Parcel 019-154;
• Jamie Hobbs’  zoning application ZA4048 to rezone from Single Family Residential District (R1) to Commercial Business District (CBD) on 4.515 acres with Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) for an open air business and a contractor’s establishment in buildings totaling 3,941 sq. ft. with 43 parking spaces with the following variances to: 1.) Reduce the zoning buffer adjacent to tax map/parcel 191-063 from 40 ft. to 10 ft. for the existing structures and gravel driveway only (UDC Table 12.2); and, 2.) Reduce the zoning setback adjacent to tax map/parcel 191-063 from 50 ft. to 10 ft. for the existing structures only (UDC Table 12.2) – Parcel 191-062;
• Appointment of Kathy Autry to serve as the District 2 Representative on the Forsyth County Board of Assessors.