Three bills under consideration right now by the Georgia General Assembly made their way onto the Henry County Board of Commissioners March 7 meeting agenda.

The board made official its opposition to all three.

Three separate resolutions were passed standing in opposition to the proposed legislation. All three bills pertain to reducing county autonomy over key development and planning decisions, county officials said.

Brett Haynes, the county’s assistant director of building and plan review, presented the items to the board, beginning with Senate Bill 188.

“As you all know we are dealing with a housing crisis and housing affordability crisis,” said Haynes. “Senate Bill 188 negates any local control over whether or not we can regulate how many rentals are within a particular development. This is for new development, existing development … it takes away our control altogether.”

He then discussed House Bill 514, which limits moratoriums on development. Haynes noted that while the paper has been amended in the state legislature to only apply to single-family homes, there are elements that remain problematic.

“It limits moratoriums for 180 days,” said Haynes. “And the fact that we have to follow zoning procedure law for the public hearing, it negates the purpose of the moratorium. As you all know, if we have to advertise for the required amount of time, any applicants can submit and inundate our Building Department, our Planning Department, solely to establish their vested right.”

Haynes said essentially that if developers are notified of an impending stoppage in accepting applications, but are then given a window of time in which to submit paperwork before that stoppage, it defeats the purpose of having a moratorium at all.

The discussion finally moved to House Bill 517, which has already passed the State House and will now move to the Senate. Haynes described it as the “most detrimental” of the three, as it challenges home rule authority.

“It would contradict many things that have been within the Henry County Unified Land Development Code for many years. It promotes higher density development even in areas that are designated to stay as rural. It would compromise our future land use map, and our comprehensive plan that we are working on an update as we speak.” 

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the three resolutions. Chair Carlotta Harrell gave instructions immediately after the vote for the bills to be forwarded expeditiously to relevant state officials.  

“As soon as these are signed, I want them emailed to our [state] delegation,” said Harrell. “And I want them emailed to the Governor’s office as well as the Lieutenant Governor’s office.”