Franklin BOC to Continue Talks on Residential Growth at Tonight’s Work Session

Franklin County commissioners will meet this evening for their regular work session.

On the agenda this evening, Commissioners will once again discuss issues related to residential development in the county.

During this evening’s work session, Commissioners are expected to discuss impact fees, tap fees, and culvert pipe fees, as well as lot sizes.

Earlier this month, the County Board of Commissioners imposed a 90-day moratorium on applications for new housing construction with a view towards using that time to nail down those issues.

During that called session on March 16, Commission Chair Jason Macomson said the Board expects to hear tonight from County staff on the development of impact fees.

“The Board directed staff to develop and present a list of impact fees for subdivisions and Mr. DeLozier has been working on that for some time. Impact fees are paid by the developer and they help offset the impact of a development on public services and public safety. This list is going to be presented at our March 29 work session and once the Board gives the go-ahead, that list has to be submitted to the State and approved before we can approve it locally. And that who process may take a few months to complete,” he said.

Another part of tonight’s work session involves further discussion on lot sizes, which is also part of the new zoning text amendment.

“The Board directed the staff to prepare a zoning text amendment to introduce at our April regular meeting. This zoning text amendment will effectively double the required minimum lot size for major subdivisions from one acre, which is the current minimum, to two. The size can actually vary slightly above or below one acre or with the change two acres, depending on whether or not water and sewer are available,” Macomson explained.

Macomson said they expect to hear from County staff at their April meeting next week on that aspect of the zoning text amendment.

Also, on tonight’s agenda, Commissioners will a wastewater facility and the County’s Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Tonight’s work session begins at 6p at the Franklin County Justice Center and is open to the public.

It is also available on Zoom. You can contact County Clerk Kayla Finger at the County Commission office for the Zoom info.