Newspaper Page Text
Communications improve as
development plans are reviewed
By Sheri Toomey
Staff Writer
Once a rezoning application is
approved by the Board of
Commissioners, the project
moves into the next stage of
development.
Development plans are submit
ted weekly to the planning depart
ment by approved applicants.
Each county department reviews
the plans in preparation for a face
to-face meeting during the weekly
plan review meeting.
Comments from each depart
ment regarding the project are dis
cussed with the developer or his
representative.
Developers generally like
aspects of plan review since com
ments are easily explained during
the meeting on the actual site
plan, said senior planner Jeff
Watkins.
“The more involved you get
somebody in the process, the bet
ter communication you get,” said
This meeting also cuts
down on questions which could
add to the 3,000-4,000 calls the
department receives each week.
The developer then takes the
—plans back to his office to fix
them before going back to each
department to get stamped
approval for the changes.
. Once each department has
signed off on the revised plans,
Planners get advice on land rights
By Sheri Toomey
Staff Writer
1 J. '
r County planners participated in a Wednesday audio
conference on property rights and public resource
’protection.
j’The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pro
. hibits government taking of private property for pub
,lic use without fair restitution.
In 1981, the Supreme Coqrt adopted a new law giv-
■ ing local governments two options when taking land:
“buying the land as it would under an eminent
domain proceeding; or repealing the unconstitutional
regulation and then compensating the landowner for
the loss of use of the property while the regulation
* was in effect,” according to the American Planning
- Association’s policy guide. .
X" Local governments have more land use skills and
Kwledge than other government agencies but they
r e not focused on them, said attorney John
aney from Silver Spring, Ma
■ Deborah Rosenthal speaking\from Costa Mesa,
j Calif., brought up three specific trends in land con
i'. damnation.
' The last developer or land owner generally bears
, the brunt of short-sighted planning, said Rosenthal,
• citing a developer who purchased the last available
■ -
If You’d E-Filed Your Taxes
< Your Refund Would Be Home By Now
> Why wait? If the IRS owes you money, you’ll get your refund in half
time it usually takes. With IRS e-file, we can file your return
electronically from our computer to the IRS. It’s simple, secure and
the fastest way to file. We’re an “Authorized IRS e-file Provider."
COme in - or call - to find out more about IRS e-file.
'.<• .4.-
Jim Transue (770) 888-9200
WHO WOULD’VE
figured, inc.
; V 3260 Keith Bridge Rd., Ste. 141, Cumming, Ga. 30131
h: FEBRUARY 9,1974- .
i ' FEBRUARY 2,1997 |
i■ I
j - i
j : She gave so (But
much to be Angels
\ : so young, JR always do.
I
One year ago, God reminded us that life is short, when He called one of His
*. \ angels home. You always knew that, and always took the time to show every
one you met how much you loved and cared. We’ve lost a wonderful daughter,
sister, aunt, & teacher, but most of all a
U friend. fp
Next in a series
about zoning issues
they are submitted back to the
planning department which gives
project approval and processes all
the required project paperwork.
Watkins said about a dozen
development plans are submitted
weekly to the department.
Once all the necessary paper
work has been cleared through the
planning department, the develop
er is given paperwork to verify the
project is permitted during a pre
construction meeting.
Clearing and grubbing permits,
grading permits, and/or site devel
opment permits and other permits
are then issued depending on the
developer’s request.
Developers are required to keep
these stamped permits on site at
all times, said Watkins.
The plans provide information
about the project including zoning
conditions which are useful to the
construction inspectors.
Once the site development plan
is issued, a residential developer
will put in the infrastructure,
needed roads and set up the lot
plan for the subdivision.
Developers of residential subdi
visions must be issued a final plat
which is then recorded at the
county clerk’s office before lots
90-acre property along the Pacific Ocean in the com
munity. These latecomers often come along when
residents are clamoring for more open space and
their land purchases are often eaten up by these
requests.
Infrastructure costs are sometimes dolled out to
developers since local governments can’t bear the
financial burden, said Rosenthal.
Tackling issues also cross over into the environ
mental front regarding protection of wetlands, air
quality and animal habitats.
Attorney Dwight Merriam from Hartford, Conn.,
suggests working out problems before the costs start
escalating with court fees.
“When things break down, we need to keep people
out of court. It’s really a waste,” said Merriam.
Taking cases usually spend nine years in court files
before an actual court trial.
Planning Commission’s are appointed “to exert
leadership and make decisions based on community
concerns,” said Merriam. “Planning Commission’s
need to worry less about legal lines and think about
what is fair.”
Across the nation, 71 sites tuned into the program
sponsored by the American Planning Association
and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
can be sold off to build homes.
Commercial developers have
generally finished construction
once their as-built is issued, the
commercial equivalent to a final
plat.
Before the planning department
issues a certificate of occupancy
the project goes through a final
inspection.
“Once the developer gets his
CO, he’s in business,” said plan
ner Gretchen Biestman.
Last year, 700 plans were sub
mitted to the planning department
for review.
Project schedules can vary
depending on how many revisions
are made as well as the develop
ers timetable.
If the project impacts state
waterways or wetlands, the
Department of Natural Resources
and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers must approve the pro
ject before the planning depart
ment will sign off on it, said
Watkins.
Federal regulations under the
Clean Water Act impose stiff
fines on developers who disturb
wetlands, said Biestman. It can be
as much as $50,000 a day per
offence.
This article is part of an ongo
ing series on the county zoning
process.
V’. JIB
A th, n
■ ShSBBI
' TB fl
Citizen’s Advisory Board chairman Gene Cobb (at left) and vice-chairman Bob Taber (center) get
ready to cut the cake celebrating the Citizen’s Advisory Board’s first year anniversary. Sheriff
Denny Hendrix (at right) looks on.
Sheriff's Citizen ’s Advisory
Board marks 1-year anniversary
The Forsyth County Sheriffs
Office Citizen’s Advisory
Board celebrated its one year
anniversary on Saturday, Jan.
10, pledging that the 20-mem
ber board will expand its scope
even more in 1998 to assist the
Sheriffs Office.
Gene Cobb, chairman of the
board and Bob Taber, vice
chairman said the board’s plans
for 1998 include helping the
Sheriffs Office become more
active in the schools, having
volunteer personnel at Precinct
1 in Tri-County Plaza daily
during regular business hours,
setting aside specific Saturdays
for fingerprinting children at
the Precinct office, and helping
expand the Neighborhood
Watch programs by getting
Whether you're shopping
for rates or reels you've come to
■
< ■ /
MUHBIII w
JA r w
■W W !■■■ ■ FV 1
KWJraHcl J
It's true, you can find a good deal on just about *>
anything at WalMart. And right now, First Market
.->i it Bank in WalMart is offering great rates on Money , M
| j A Market Savings and Interest Checking.
W Open a Money Market Savings account and get
A 6.00% APY on $25,000 or more. It's guaranteed ,
through April and you'll always have access to your
-'' money. ()r check into an Interest (Checking account
where you can earn 3.30% APYf on balances of
SI,OOO or more. It's just another way the most «
convenient bank around is making banking a little
bit better. Come see what 125 years of banking «
experience can do for you. We're here weekdays
until 7pm and until 4pm on Saturdays. ,
i*
C First Market Bank
ADMskxiof NBC Bank FSB/Membw FtHC
www.firstmarketbank.com <
Mil ‘ • ( ' ?
CANTON 479-8061 • CUMMING 781-9331 • GAINESVILLE 287-3183
•Anrnm (wantage y«Ma>o(l/26m. 4.80% APVgatd on balances ot»UB0 to (9,999 O%APV paid on balances less man Ji .000 interest Wes »e guaranteed until VXM after Midi Mndt \ )
■ales are vadaMe and may chunge Minimum opening balance <s $2 500 Foes ma, reduce earnings limited time olta \ >• ,8
fAPVMoH«B«o%*PYpaidunbaienceslessmensl.ooo. Inteiest rate is variable and may cbange Minimum opening balance Is SIOO Fees may reduce earnings limlled time olta
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sundiy, Februtry 1,1 »M -
more citizens involved as
trainees.
Some of the accomplishments
of the Citizen’s Advisory
Board in 1998 included helping
to secure a location and finan
cial backing for the new
Precinct 1, inspecting the
kitchen at the Detention Center
on a regular basis per direction
from the Sheriff, and periodic
assistance with special projects
undertaken by the Sheriffs
Office. The board also has
helped in the designing of an
Animal Control Brochure, and
a False Alarm Ordinance now
being considered.
“I am very happy with the
support the Citizen’s Advisory
Board has given to this Office
during my first year as sheriff,”
said Sheriff Denny Hendrix.
“In addition to all the projects
they have worked on and are
planning for the coming year,
the board has acted as a sound
ing board for citizens. I encour
age citizens to talk with these
board members and give them
input on the job we are doing.”
The organization of the
Citizen’s Advisory Board was
one of the ten campaign
promises made by Sheriff
Denny Hendrix during his bid
for sheriff. The board meets
monthly at Precinct 1 in Tri-
County Plaza.
For further information, con
tact Karleen Chalker, (770)
781-3052
PAGE 5A