Article 15. PLANNED INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT  

Purpose

The purpose and intent of the Planned Industrial District Regulations are to provide for a comprehensively planned district for the orderly growth and development of certain industrial uses which are, by virtue of controls, mutually harmonious with other industries permitted in said Planned Industrial District and also harmonious with residential, commercial, and other uses permitted in nearby districts. The Planned Industrial District caters to basic industries requiring large tracts of land; it is intended to be protected from encroachment by commercial, residential, and other land uses adverse to the location and expansion of industrial development.

The Planned Industrial District Regulations are intended to promote the health, safety, morals, welfare, comfort, and convenience of the inhabitants of this district and the surrounding lands.

Within a Planned Industrial District as shown on the official Zoning Map of Meriwether County, Georgia, the following regulations shall apply:

15.1

Uses Permitted

 No building, structure, or land shall be used and no building or structure shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered, enlarged, or maintained except for one or more of the uses herein cited and subject to the conditions stated herein:

Commercial heliports and/or helipads.

Computer and data processing services.

Educational, scientific, and research organizations.

Engineering, architectural, and design services.

Federal, state, county, city or public utilities owned or operated buildings and uses.

Manufacturing, processing, fabrication or assembly of the following:

(1)

Apparel.

(2)

Automotive and implements.

(3)

Electrical and electronic machinery, equipment and supplies.

(4)

Food and kindred products intended for human consumption.

(5)

Lumber and wood products.

(6)

Machinery other than electrical.

(7)

Metal and metal products.

(8)

Plastics, glass and rubber products.

(9)

Printing and publishing.

(10)

Professional, scientific, and controlling instruments.

(11)

Research and development operations.

(12)

Textile mill products.

(13)

Transportation equipment.

Medical and dental laboratories.

Office buildings for general office purposes.

Research, experimental and testing laboratories.

Warehousing, interior storage, and distribution in conjunction with manufacturing, assembly and office use.

Wholesale storage, warehouse, and distribution facilities.

Public utility buildings, excluding communication towers and antennae.

Wholesale or retail sale of industrial equipment.

Bottling plant.

Exterior storage in conjunction with the above-mentioned uses completely screened from adjacent property lines and streets.

Accessory structures and uses to those permitted herein.

15.2

Required Yards

15.2.1

Yards facing an existing or proposed street other than a controlled access highway shall be considered front yards. Such yards shall have a minimum depth of one hundred (100) feet.

15.2.2

All other yards shall have a minimum depth of fifty (50) feet.

15.2.3

All required yards shall be kept clear of parking, except as provided for in Sections 15.5.5 and 15.5.6, loading areas, exterior storage areas, and accessory uses and buildings, provided however, a gate or security station may be located in a required yard.

15.2.4

Easements: There shall be provided an easement of not less than twenty-five (25) feet along each side and rear lot line for utilities and drainage.

15.3

Density Controls

15.3.1

Buildings only shall not cover an area greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total area of the tract. Buildings and all improvements combined (including vehicular parking and tract loading) shall not cover an area greater than seventy percent (70%) of the total area of the tract.

15.3.2

Minimum lot area shall not be less than ten (10) acres for each tract.

15.3.3

Minimum lot width of each tract shall not be less than two hundred (200) feet as measured at the building line.

15.3.4

Maximum number of stories and maximum height are unlimited.

15.4

Street Access and Frontage

15.4.1

Each lot shall have a minimum frontage of one hundred (100) feet on a public road.

15.4.2

Access to building sites shall be via collector or arterial streets wherever possible. No access roads serving plants shall be permitted which may place heavy traffic on residential streets that are not classified as major collector or arterial streets.

15.5

Off-Street Parking Requirements

15.5.1

The minimum number of off-street parking spaces for the following types of uses shall be provided as follows:

(1)

One (1) space for each three hundred (300) square feet of ground floor area plus one (1) space for each five hundred (500) square feet of upper floor area for non-manufacturing uses to include offices, laboratories and technical support.

(2)

One (1) space for each three hundred (300) square feet of manufacturing and assembly area, plus one (1) space for each (2) two employees on the maximum working shift.

(3)

One (1) space for each three (3) employees on the maximum working shirt, plus one (1) space for each company vehicle operating from the premises, for warehouse and storage area.

15.5.2

All parking areas shall be paved and properly drained. No parking shall be permitted any place other than in paved parking areas.

15.5.3

Loading areas shall not be placed within any front yard nor in any required yard and shall be located and properly screened, as well as practicable, so as to not be visible from any existing or proposed street.

15.5.4

Parking and loading areas shall be landscaped in accordance with Section 15.6—Landscaping Requirements.

15.5.5

Off-street parking for visitors, executives and handicapped persons may be permitted in the required front yard not to exceed three (3) spaces per one hundred (100) feet of frontage on a public street and shall not encroach within seventy (70) feet of an existing or proposed street.

15.5.6

Off-street parking areas and access ways in required rear and side yards are not permitted within thirty (30) feet of any side or rear property line.

15.5.7

The provisions of this Section 15.5 shall control over any conflicting provisions contained in Article 11 hereof.

15.6

Landscaping Requirements

 Every building site on which a building shall be placed shall be landscaped in the following manner.

15.6.1

All yards required under this ordinance shall be landscaped and maintained. A minimum of one tree per twenty (20) linear feet of distance for each boundary line shall be planted in the required yards.

15.6.2

All off-street parking, loading and unloading areas shall be screened, as well as practicable, from view from streets by the use of earth berms or landscaping materials.

15.6.3

Landscaping and lighting of off-street parking and vehicular use areas are required.

15.6.4

Each side and rear yard shall have not less than a thirty (30) foot wide strip of land adjacent to the property line planted and maintained; however if any yard faces an existing or proposed street, then it shall have not less than a seventy (70) foot wide strip of land planted and maintained except for main access drives into the site.

15.7

Industrial District Plan

15.7.1

Any landowner of property lying in a Planned Industrial District desiring to dedicate any street, road, or right-of-way to the public must submit to the Director of County Planning a plan of the proposed street, road, or right-of-way for approval.

15.7.2

Anyone desiring to secure a building permit for the use of land lying in a Planned Industrial District must submit to the Director of County Planning a generalized plot plan of the tract to be developed for approval. Such generalized plot plan shall have shown thereon the following information:

(1)

Location map showing the boundaries of the tract to be developed.

(2)

The location of all buildings proposed to be constructed.

(3)

The general location of parking areas, loading docks, proposed railroad spurs, and public and/or private access ways.

(4)

Site grading and storm drainage plan.

(5)

Proposed utilities services.

(6)

Required screening.

(7)

Required and adequate easements.

The Director of County Planning shall review and approve by signature the proposed plot plan upon finding that the same complies with these regulations.

 If the proposed plot plan is not approved, the Director of County Planning shall state in writing on the proposed plot plan the cause for such disapproval.

(Ord. of 4-12-06(2))