Whitfield County commissioners look to reduce costs for some residential developments

Published 8:00 am Thursday, June 13, 2024

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Monday held the first reading of two ordinances that seek to cut red tape and costs for some residential developments.

The first would create a definition of a minor subdivision as a “subdivision of five or fewer lots, which does not require the construction of a new road for the purpose of lawful access.”

The second would exempt minor subdivisions from land disturbance permits if all the structures are one- or two-family homes, the land disturbing area is less than one acre and “no portion of the minor subdivision is within one linear mile upstream of and within the same watershed as any portion of an Impaired Stream Segment as defined by Georgia (Environmental Protection Division, or EPD).”

“Our goal is to match, but not exceed, what the state EPD requires for stormwater and erosion control,” said board Chairman Jevin Jensen. “We also want to be competitive with surrounding counties to keep our building costs low and regulations at a minimum.”

“After the discussion at our May commissioners meeting with various developers and additional research by county staff, we proposed minor subdivisions of five lots or less that can be exempt from stormwater planning and erosion control permits,” he said. “This is similar to Catoosa’s (County) ordinance and less restrictive than Bartow’s. The larger subdivisions will still require these plans and permits prior to construction.”

The commissioners are expected to vote on these measures at their July meeting.

The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve:

— The purchase of a low boy tractor from MHC of Chattanooga for $185,051.26.

— Renewal of the county’s software licensing agreement with Microsoft for three years at $95,665 a year.

— A $68,500 contract with Stubblefield Excavation and Plumbing of Ringgold to repair a wingwall on a culvert on Antioch Road.

— Payment of the second half of the county’s 2024 agreement with Motorola for service and maintenance of the county emergency radio system for $58,974.

— The purchase through Source Well, a buyers cooperative for governments and nonprofit agencies, of a trench roller from Tractor Equipment Co. of Calhoun for $47,800.

— Purchase of a 2024 Ford Bronco for $30,565 from Ford of Dalton under state contract.

— A request by Rigoberto Barragan to rezone from low-density, single-family residential to general agriculture 19.64 acres at 213 E. Broadacre Road N.E. in Dalton. Barragan wants to add a single-family house to the property.

— A request by Marco Sanchez to rezone from rural residential to neighborhood commercial .25 of an acre at 100 Downing St. in Dalton. The property contains a small office building and the rezoning brings the use into conformity with the zoning.

— A request by DixiBrix to rezone from general commercial to heavy manufacturing 46.368 acres at 265 S.W. Carbondale Road to further potential commercial development of the site.

— A request by 115 Wooten Drive LLC to rezone from general commercial to rural residential 1.16 acres at 115 Wooten Drive in Dalton. The property contains a single-family house and the rezoning brings the use into conformity with the zoning.

Commissioners Greg Jones and Robby Staten were absent.