County Commission Amending Zoning Ordinance in Agriculture Intensive District

The Stephens County Commission is working on amending the language in the current zoning ordinance for the agriculture intensive district.

The first public hearing for the amended zoning language was Tuesday night.

County Attorney Brian Ranck said these changes involve district requirements in the agriculture intensive district that involve poultry operations.

“The county is currently under a moratorium right now for poultry operations and the commissioners had asked staff to look at some increases to district requirements, which we have done,” said Ranck. “What’s before the board tonight is derived from commissioner input and also consultation with experts in the field, different authorities and studies that have been done on the effects of poultry operations.”

The moratorium was put into place back in May after the commission approved a request for the construction of new poultry houses on both Davis and Yow Mill Roads.

Ranck describes what these changes involve.

“Of the proposed changes which would increase the setbacks for poultry operations, the minimum acreage for an agriculture intensive district and also impose a setback for poultry operations that come within certain distances from schools, colleges, parks and daycare facilities- increasing that to 3,000 feet.”

No one from the public spoke in opposition or agreement of these amendments.

The second public hearing on this ordinance will be August 8.