Board of Commissioners delays approval of comp plan again

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — For the second straight week, the Dawson County Board of Commissioner couldn’t decide if would be best to approve the comprehensive plan using the same future land use map it has used for years or replace it with a character area map.

Both maps display every parcel in Dawson County. The future land use map uses more narrow guidelines in assigning zoning classifications while the character area map is reportedly more flexible.

At Thursday’s (Jan. 17) work session, Chairman Billy Thurmond said, “There is some more work that is going to be done on that map that has been requested.”

Part of the reason for the Board’s indecision is that the future land use map presented on Jan. 10 contained some errors that needed to be corrected.

The comprehensive plan is the road map commissioners use to plan for future growth. The state requires counties update the plan every five years and submit it to the Department of Community Affairs in order to attain Certified Local Government status and to be eligible to receive state grants.

The county has held numerous public information meetings and conducted an online survey to keep citizens in the loop about the proposed plan.

Speaking at the Jan. 10 public hearing, Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Christie Moore said speaking on behalf of the Chamber, “We would argue that the character area makes absolutely the most sense. I hear the argument about it being less restrictive, but I would also say it empowers the commission more to help be part of that process.”

Speaking at the same meeting, Long Range Planning Committee Co-Chair Terri Tragesser said, “We have more comfort at this time in staying with the (future land use) map as opposed to the character areas. Not because we don’t think that could have value but we just at this point don’t know enough about it to feel comfortable with it. I’ve seen future land use maps in high-growth areas serve very well as opposed to the character area maps, but you have to put some overlays on those maps so that they are specific.”

 

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