How to keep Gilmer County from being swamped by new residents was a major topic at a recent Board of Commissioners work session.
“Growth is coming,” Chairman Charlie Paris said. “We want to make sure Gilmer County remains a rural agriculture county.”
Being discussed was a third draft of proposed changes to the county’s land development ordinance.
Specifically, the changes deal with decreasing density in new construction projects.
“Density is not a friend to an agricultural community,” said Board Attorney David Clarke.
To this end, changes being proposed include land designated R-1 (residential low density) requiring a 3-acre lot for construction of a home instead of 1.5 acres.
For land designated R-2 (residential high density) acreage would go from 1 acre to 1.25 acres, unless the development includes green space.
Property wanting to be designated agricultural (A-1) would have to be 7 acres instead of 3.
In another change, recreational vehicles would not be allowed to be permanent living structures.
A new designation of A1R (agricultural recreational) is proposed for campgrounds or RV parks. It would require 25 acres with a 300-foot setback off all property lines.
“We don’t really know of any other way to address it,” Paris said. “What we are actually trying to do is control growth as much as possible to make sure our lifestyle is preserved.”
Paris acknowledges there is a Catch-22, people don’t want to pay more to buy more land to build a home, but they don’t want the county to get crowded.
“Again, this is all proposals at this point,” he said.
List of 17 proposed changes
﹣ R-1 (Residential Low Density) — proposed to go from 1.5 acres to 3.0 acres
﹣ R-2 (Residential High Density) — proposed to go from 1.0 acre to 1.25 acre — with 1.0 acre minimum within a green-space development
﹣ A-1 (Agricultural) — proposed to go from 3.0 acres to 7.0 acres
﹣ Current ordinance allows for multiple phases of developments to be active at the same time — proposal is for each phase to be final plat approved before introducing the next phase
﹣ A1R (Agricultural Recreational) — newly proposed zone — intended for use by individuals interested in creating campgrounds and/or RV parks — the minimum acreage proposed is 25 with a 300’ setback off all property lines — the use of yurts, tree houses and geodomes to be allowed with appropriate engineer plans
﹣ Recreational Vehicles — currently are allowed as permanent living structures — proposal does NOT allow a Recreational Vehicle to be used as a permanent living structure
﹣ Class D Road — currently is required to be 18’ road surface width, 2’ shoulders and 40’ R.O.W. with 4” gravel — proposal is to be 20’ surface width, 2” triple surface treatment, 10’ shoulders and 40’ R.O.W. — Planning Commission recommends not going with the 10’ shoulder widths
﹣ Class E Road — currently is required to be 14’ wide, with gravel surface 4” thick, 30’ R.O.W and 2’ shoulders — proposal is to be 18’ road width, 6” gravel surface, 40’ R.O.W. and 10’ shoulders - Planning Commission recommends not going with the 10’ shoulder widths
﹣ Splits per calendar year — currently we allow two splits per calendar year — the proposal is to reduce that to one split per calendar year
﹣ One proposed change was to have the Public Works director advise whether or not a road is an adequately standard road — within that is also included the ability to require a traffic study
﹣ The definition of guest-house is proposed to be defined as half the square footage of the primary dwelling — not to exceed 1,000 square feet. — The Planning Commission recommends that the ceiling be half the square footage of the primary dwelling and not put a ceiling on the total
﹣ Minimum frontage on road when splitting — current ordinance rules state that a 40’ minimum road frontage is required when splitting — the proposal is to increase that to 60’
﹣ Currently metal carports require a permit — the proposal is to allow a two car metal carport to be exempt from permitting provided they meet property line setbacks
﹣ Subdivision Entrance/Exit — current ordinance doesn’t specify total number required — proposal is that a minimum of two entrance/exits be required for large development (100+ lots) or subdivision containing a bridge
﹣ Gilmer County Road R.O.W. dedicated by developer where subdivision entry is from county maintained road — current requirement is 60’ (30’ from center of road) — proposal is 80’ (40’ from center)
﹣ Slope of Roads within subdivisions — currently the ordinance allows 20 percent maximum provided that every 400’ be poured in concrete or asphalt inside the 20 percent slope — it recommends not going over 18 percent — the proposal is 12 percent max — The Planning Commission recommends 16 percent slope with maximum 18 percent with the 400’ concrete or asphalt in the steepest portions
﹣ Road surface changes within subdivisions — currently the ordinance does not specify rules with regard to changing the road surface type after the subdivision is final plat approved — the proposal is for the developer to be required to wait 12 months before changing the road surface.