Several matters required action from the Locust Grove City Council at its February 24 workshop meeting after the regular business meeting earlier in the month failed to reach a quorum.
Two separate 24-acre tracts of land on Davis Lake Road were officially annexed into the city, and both were zoned RA (residential-agricultural), the same designation they previously had in the unincorporated county. That required four separate actions, and in each case the vote was 3-2 to approve with Chris Breedlove, Rod Shearouse and Willie Taylor in favor; Keith Boone and Carlos Greer opposed; and Randy Gardner recusing himself.
The council voted 5-1 to approve a resolution opposing House Bill 302 and Senate Bill 172, which according to a city staff report “would prohibit local governments from placing regulations or standards on single-family and two-family dwellings such as siding and architectural requirements in addition to building standards beyond the ICC/State adopted building code requirements.” Greer cast the lone dissenting vote.
The resolution, similar to what the county and its other three cities have already passed, called the proposed action “frivolous and overreactive” and said it “would severely erode the ability of all Georgia cities and counties to address unique quality-of-life issues.”
Approved unanimously was a resolution to accept a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission under which the city will be permitted to review and approve soil erosion plans.
The Council unanimously approved a resolution to accept outdoor contracts with Clear Channel, Whiteway, and Lamar Outdoor for tourism advertising during the 2020 calendar year. The county’s Convention and Visitors Bureau has acquired billboard space at three locations visible to southbound traffic along I-75 between Atlanta and Macon, with a fourth set to be added in 2020. The city’s portion of the cost is tabbed at $18,000. That is a $5,557 increase from last year since advertising rates have gone up and new hotels continue to come online in the city, according to officials.
The council voted unanimously to approve the revised final plat for Elmstone Commons (phase 2), a planned residential subdivision south and west of the intersection of Hwy. 42 and Tanger Blvd. with 55 lots on 28.43 total acres.
Special event permits were approved for two Special Olympics fundraisers hosted by the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department, scheduled for April 11 and April 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A special event permit was also approved for the Haven House 5K Road Race set for April 25 beginning at 9 a.m.
