CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Planning Commission heard from citizens Monday night about proposed changes to the Official Code of White County.
A small crowd attended the public hearing that was held at the White County Senior Center to get feedback from the public. Five people addressed the commission to express their views.
“They had opportunity to voice their opinions tonight. I think I did hear they didn’t feel they had enough time with the document in advance, but you heard what Mr. Sell said, it’s been out there for thirty days on the website, it’s been on the radio, it’s been in the paper,” said Planning Commission Chairman Charlie Thomas.
REVIEW Proposed Code changes here
Most of the changes to the Code deal with land use, specifically short-term rentals. A major proposal would prohibit short-term rentals in a subdivision unless there are covenants that allow it. If the property is not in a subdivision and the property is classified as A-1, R1-or R3, the approval for short-term rental will be made by administrative staff if they meet the requirements. That means citizens would not be allowed to express their views about the change.
That caught the attention of Chairman Thomas.
“The biggest thing I heard tonight was the one lady that voiced the opposition of not having public hearings for the short-term rentals outside of subdivisions, you know. It’ll be an administrative process if this passes. I mean, this hasn’t passed yet,” he said.
The planning commission will discuss the issue further before making a recommendation to the White County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed code changes at 4 p.m. on December 4 in the Board Room at the Administration Building at 1235 Helen Hwy. Cleveland.
The proposed revisions may be viewed on the county government website at www.whitecountyga.gov
