---
date: 1995-04-17
title: April 17, 1995 Minutes
source: 1995-04/1995-04-17_April 17, 1995_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

April 17, 1995

CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA APRIL 17, 1995

A Special Meeting of the City Council was held April 17, 1995 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Kelley presiding and
members present were Harold Cochran, G. W. Evans, W. A. Gardner, F. J. Hunter and Ronnie Simmons. A.
J. Welch, City Attorney, was present.

Motion to convene was made by Harold Cochran, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously.

Mayor Kelley opened the meeting stating that A. J. Welch, City Attorney, would read and discuss ordinances
to be adopted and amendments to existing ordinances.

ZONING ORDINANCE. The first ordinance amends the City's Zoning Ordinance to adopt the Henry County
Zoning Provisions along with all zoning amendments that have been made by Henry County.

WILLIAM WOODSON GALLOWAY, attorney for Davis-Stockbridge, Inc., addressed the Council for his
client. Thirty acres of land located on Old Atlanta Road in Stockbridge is zoned for multi-family and his client
Davis-Stockbridge, Inc. purchased this land on March 29, 1994 based on assurances from the City that the
property was zoned multi-family with a density of 12 units per acre or a total of 360 apartment units. His
client is concerned that four units per acre zoning change being considered would severely restrict the
development of the property at a tremendous loss.

Mayor Kelley asked for a vote on the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Provisions. Motion to approve
was made by W. A. Gardner, seconded by F. J. hunter and passed unanimously.

HENRY COUNTY HOME OCCUPATION ZONING ORDINANCE. A. J. Welch read and discussed an
ordinance he drafted which amends the zoning ordinance to restrict home occupations. The ordinance will
allow no signs on the premises, no more than 2 nontransient guests may be boarded, and requires a City
business license. No clients or customers may come to the premises to purchase retail items or
manufactured goods. Motion was made by Ronnie Simmons to approve, seconded by F. J. Hunter and
passed unanimously.

SIGN ORDINANCE. A. J. Welch explained to the Council that they had adopted a sign ordinance November
9, 1992. When they adopted the Henry County Zoning Provisions at the beginning of this meeting, it repealed
the City's current sign ordinance. As a formality, the City's sign ordinance must be re-adopted. Motion was
made by Harold Cochran to adopt Sign Ordinance, seconded by G. W. Evans and passed unanimously.
HENRY COUNTY MULTIPLE-FAMILY ZONING ORDINANCE. A. J. Welch explained that in 1984 the
zoning ordinance for Henry County and the City of Stockbridge was changed to require 8 units of apartments
per acre. The ordinance is clear that only good acres may be counted. Wetland and unsuitable acres must
be removed from the count. He also stated that high crime of serious offenses is prevalent in high-density
areas. Henry County Planning Department is also considering making a change in their density regulations.
MINUTES
4/17/1995
PAGE 2

CALVIN McSHAN, Henry County Department of Community Development, discussed the Department's
position in this matter. At this time, they are reviewing the multi-family regulations and plan to make
recommendations to the Board of Commissioners to reduce the number of units from 8 to 4 per acre. Crime
increases in high-density areas. There is no flow of traffic due to substandard roads. Reducing the density
will reduce trip numbers from 20 to 3 times a day. New regulations should require more open spaces with
bike paths and recreational facilities. Lowering the density will reduce the City's cost for providing water and
sewer. High-density apartment units will take a large portion of the City's sewerage capacity. He also pointed
out that by reducing the density of apartment units, the City could go after commercial growth. Mr. McShan
introduced a new Landscape Ordinance that is being considered by Henry County, which would improve the
appearance of multi-family zoned areas.

Mr. Galloway addressed the Council stating that if this ordinance is retroactively adopted to include his client,
it will be unfair and unlawful. He went through his client's concerns.

Motion was made by W. A. Gardner to adopt Amendment to Zoning Ordinance: Multiple-Family Resident
Districts, seconded by Harold Cochran and passed unanimously.

Motion to adjourn was made by G. W. Evans, seconded by F. J. Hunter and passed unanimously. Meeting
adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Merle Manders R. G. Kelley
City Clerk Mayor
