Henry County commissioners made it clear at their March 5 regular meeting that they are not in favor of pending state legislation that could strip them of their ability to regulate development standards for buildings.

  A resolution was passed by the Board of Commissioners opposing House Bill 302 and Senate Bill 172, after the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia as well as the Georgia Municipal Association asked all local jurisdictions in the state to voice their opposition.

  “If these bills are approved, it would restrict our local government from placing specific zoning conditions and/or require- ments on developments, as it pertains to ‘building design elements,’” according to a staff report.

  The legislation, championed by Georgia’s home builder and realtor associations, prohibits cities and counties from regulating “building design elements” in single or double family dwellings includes exterior building color; type or style of exterior cladding material; style or materials of roof structures or porches; exterior nonstructural architectural ornamentation; location or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors; the number and types of rooms; the interior layout of rooms; and types of foundation structures approved under state minimum standard codes.

  County staff summed it up this way: “In short, if a house meets state minimum standard building codes, it can be built.”

  Planning and Zoning Director Daunte Gibbs said the legislation would “remove the teeth” from county regulations that allow them to set standards and require conditions on construction. If passed, his staff would have to recommend approval for any proposal that meets the bare minimum of the existing codes.

  On any phased developments that have not been completed, future phases would not have to meet the same conditions as the previously approved phases according to county manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews.

  Commissioner Gary Barham left little doubt as to where he stood on the issue.

  “It appears these developers and builders and realtors are funneling money into these legislators’ pockets to try to get this passed,” he said during the meeting. “I am appalled that this would even be considered.”

  Board chair June Wood added her objections, saying, “This totally violates home rule.”   Wood added that the Atlanta Regional Commission board, of which she is a member, passed a resolution a week earlier in opposition to the legislation.