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Planning & Zoning
Planning, Building and Zoning
785 Forest Parkway
Forest Park, Ga. 30297
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Stephen L. Pearson, Director |
404-608-2303 |
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Michael Tuttle,
Deputy Director |
404-608-2303 |
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V.L. Johnson, Animal Control |
404-608-2300 |
Services / Functions:
The Planning, Building and Zoning Department is responsible for providing services related to planning and zoning, building construction/development and Animal control, and includes the following under it's purview:
Planning /Zoning
Affiliate Boards:
- Planning and Zoning Board
- Zoning Appeals Board
Building - Construction / Development
- Flood Plain Management
- Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
- Hydrological Study
- Engineering
- Plan Review / Analysis
- Permits (Commercial/Residential): Building, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Grading, Land Disturbance, etc.
- Inspections (Construction, Business License, Housing, etc.)
- Sign Ordinance
- Annexations
- Affiliate Boards:
- Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB)
- Construction and Appeals Board (CAB)
Property Management / Code Enforcement
General Summary of Code Compliance Ordinances
- Affiliate Board: International Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals
Animal Control
Environmental Court
Planning, Building and Zoning Department offers:
| Zoning Information |
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404-608-2303 |
| Code Enforcement |
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404-608-2300 |
| Building Inspection |
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404-608-2303 |
| Housing Inspection |
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404-608-2303 |
| Animal Control |
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404-608-2300 |
PLANNING, BUILDING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT
The Planning, Building and Zoning Department is responsible for providing services related to planning and zoning, property maintenance, building construction and animal control. Planning, Building and Zoning is Forest Park's central planning department. Our staff of trained and experienced planning, building and zoning professionals provide assistance throughout the entire development process, from the review of preliminary designs to actual construction, ensures that Forest Park's character as a diversified and balanced community is preserved. The process is realized through diligent efforts to provide the latest comprehensive networking of certified personnel, consulting firms, federal and state agencies and a genuine concern for the preservation and enhancement of the built environment and quality of life in Forest Park.
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BUILDING CONSTRUCTION / DEVELOPMENT
Construction Plan Review and Inspection
Our process is designed to promote and ensure public safety and community development through an extensive plan review process and inspection of the construction and alterations of buildings and structures, commercial and residential. To regulate and maintain compliance with adopted building and technical code.
The Department is dedicated to providing the most up to date professional plan review, inspection and permitting process available. The Department ranks Class 4 of the ISO, Inc. Building Code Effectiveness Grading System (BCEGS). Our professional plan review process begins and ends at the same location, here at 785 Forest Parkway, a one-stop shop. Plans are internally routed to the various reviewing parties i.e. Fire Services, Public Works, Planning, Building and Zoning, Travis Pruitt & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers (for civil review) and Municipal Building Inspection Services, Inc. (MBIS, Inc.) for technical code compliance review. All new commercial construction plans are submitted to the City of Forest Park Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) (a five (5) member board) to review site development issues concerning landscaping, sidewalks, handicap requirement, color scheme, etc. We have streamlined this process and designed it not only for professional courtesy and ease of application, but also we have taken into account the need for a quick response. The plan review process takes three to five days with one exception; the ADRB meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month. A special meeting on any Tuesday may be arranged if time constraints dictate a need. MBIS, Inc. performs our technical code on site inspection. A call to their office before 4:00 p.m. will prompt a next day inspection. After 4:00 p.m. an inspection(s) will be scheduled the following business day.
We realize how important your project is to you and certainly realize the economic development importance to the City of Forest Park as a whole. The City of Forest Park is a progressive community with a tremendous opportunity to grow and prosper and we welcome you as a partner to share in the success. Should you encounter any difficulties with our process or would like to discuss any particular aspect of our process, please give me a call at 404-608-2303.
Stephen L. Pearson, Director
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ZONING
In 1989, the State of Georgia established the Georgia Planning Act to promote statewide local government comprehensive planning. The City of Forest Park adopted a Comprehensive Plan in 1995 with an outlook to the year 2015 to meet the States standards for local comprehensive planning. The current Comprehensive Plan Update 2005-2025 is a major update to the 1995 Comprehensive Plan.
The City of Forest Park has adopted a Comprehensive Plan 2005-2025. The Comprehensive Plan is organized around a framework of government policy which is used to guide the growth of the community and coordinate public services. The Comprehensive Plan attempts to identify the quantities, types, locations and timing of future developments. An integral component of the Comprehensive Plan is a Future Land Use Map which in this case established fourteen land use classifications. The land use classifications include Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, High Density Residential, Commercial, Mixed Use Commercial / Residential, Office / Professional, Mixed Use Office / Residential, Mixed Use Transit Village, Office / Business, Light Industrial, Public / Institutional, Parks / Open Space, Transportation / Communications / Utilities, and Undeveloped. Zoning Classification Districts are established which regulate development within each of the fourteen Land Use Classifications. These zoning classification prescribe use, height, density, lot size and occupancy, number of buildings, yard size, and other development criteria. It is Planning, Building and Zoning's responsibility to effectively and efficiently administer the programs of Land Use and Zoning; which are required by Charter, Ordinance and Administrative Technical Codes, which affect Forest Park's industrial, commercial and residential neighborhoods.
Our department is affiliated with five appointed boards directly affecting our area. We garner the pertinent information, documents, plans, etc., from petitioners, contractors, and owners and provide copies to the respective Boards. We publish legal ads and public notification of such hearings and we are responsible for retaining the records in our office. We also provide technical assistance as needed and attend all the meetings. The five boards are as follows:
Planning and Zoning Board
This is a five member board. Their primary function is to recommend to the governing body to approve or disapprove based on their findings after review and consideration of the following:
- New ordinances pertaining to zoning.
- Sub-divisions, commercial and residential property.
- Zoning or rezoning of parcels of property.
- Conditional uses in various zones such as commercial activity in a residential
zone or a day care facility in a residential zone.
Zoning Board of Appeals
This Board has five members. Their primary function is to consider and render decisions that relax certain standards or requirements of the zoning ordinance based on site configuration and other unusual circumstances. Such as variances to front, side, rear yard and building setbacks.
Architectural Design and Review Board
This Board has five members. The Board reviews new commercial construction site plans on an individual basis to ensure the City's minimum requirements for landscaping, site configuration, color scheme, and sidewalks, etc. are met. To insure that the general aesthetics of the proposed project is harmonious to the surrounding area, they also implement the City's Land Use Plan into the review process.
Construction and Appeals Board
This Board has five members. The primary function of this Board is to arbitrate disputes or interpretations of the various technical codes or ordinances pertaining to property deficiencies, residential, and commercial between the Building Official and property owner and contractor prior to court actions. This particular board although a very important instrument in the scope of due process has historically met only once. This is due to the fact that this department systematically accomplishes objectives by the book following regulations to the letter.
IPMC Board of Appeals
This Board has three members. Their primary function is to arbitrate disputes or interpretations of the International Property Maintenance Code between the Code Compliance Officer and property owner.
Property Management / Code Enforcement
To maintain the condition of existing buildings, a well organized code enforcement program has been established. Property owners are notified of possible violations, given an adequate amount of time to correct them and, if necessary given citations. However, an overwhelming majority of property owners respond positively to the initial warning and correct any infractions without further action.
Your City government exists for the primary purpose of providing a well structured and professional organization to deliver quality municipal services to you the Forest Park Citizens. Forest Park government has a commitment to make this City the cleanest, safest, and most livable City in America. We respectfully refer to this campaign as FP2 Forest Park Pride. All of the City Departments, Police, Fire, Administrative, Public Works, Recreation and Leisure Services, Fleet Services, and Planning, Building & Zoning have united to collectively pursue this mission. We need your help. We can only realize this commitment through a concerted effort or partnership with each Forest Park Citizen. This is our City, and we share in the responsibility of maintaining and improving the livability of Forest Park. In order to mitigate the negative influences brought about by property maintenance neglect, the City has enacted a division of Planning, Building and Zoning called Code Enforcement to ensure code compliance.
Code Enforcement's mission is to: Administer and implement equal and effective enforcement of the City's codes, ordinances, and standards pertaining to the construction, alteration, renovation, and utilization of building and structures within the City. To protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens by mitigating and eliminating unsightly, unhealthy and dangerous environments as defined by zoning, health and housing code.
Forest Park is a City comprised of 9.3 square miles, 5,500 residential and 2,000 commercial properties and over 80 miles of roadway. In order for effective and efficient code compliance coverage of this area, we are counting on you the Forest Park Citizen to partner with us. Let's join together as one team to provide Forest Park's neighborhoods and business communities with the best code compliance possible in order to maintain and improve the quality of life and property values in our community with reference to appearance, health and safety. If you would like more information concerning Forest Park's Code Enforcement policies, procedures and duties, as well as to receive copies of ordinances and regulations, please visit our office; Department of Planning, Building and Zoning located at 785 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297 (just east of City Hall) or phone us at 404-608-2300. To forward comments please call: Department of Planning, Building and Zoning at 404-608-2300 or the Citizen Solution Line at 404-366-1555.
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GENERAL SUMMARY OF CODE COMPLIANCE ORDINANCES
Residents Have Responsibilities, Too!
The City of Forest Park is proud of it's quality of residential life and has adopted ordinances requiring all residents to be responsible for maintaining that quality of life. The following are general summaries of common ordinances.
Lawn Mowing
Grass and weeds must be cut before reaching a height of 7 inches.
Trash Disposal
- All residents are required to have trash disposal, which is contracted privately through the city.
- Litter, trash, rubbish and debris must not accumulate on any property at any time.
- Garbage and other debris must be stored in tightly covered, solid containers.
- Trash containers may not be stored in front of the house.
- Trash containers put out for collection can only be put out 24 hours ahead of collection and must be properly stored within 24 hours of collection.
- Litter, garbage, grass, leaves or other debris cannot be dumped in any park, open field, street, ditch, sewer, wooded area or in private dumpsters.
Cars, Trucks and Motorized Vehicles
- Inoperable, junk or unlicensed vehicles are not permitted to be visible to the public, and must be removed from the property, or parked within a completely enclosed structure.
- A vehicle with broken or missing windows or flat tire(s) is considered inoperable. A vehicle with extensive body or frame damage is considered a junk vehicle. A vehicle without a current registration (in Georgia or elsewhere) is considered unlicensed.
- Vehicles parked in driveways cannot block the sidewalk, or extend into the right-of-way.
- Vehicles parked on the street can only stay in one place for 72 hours maximum.
- Recreational vehicles, boats and campers are required to be parked in the side yard behind the front of the house, or in the rear yard if space permits.
- All vehicles may only be parked on a paved surface, usually concrete or asphalt. No vehicle may be parked on grass, dirt or gravel.
Building Exterior
- The building exterior must be kept in good repair, including cleaning of surfaces weathered with dirt and grime.
- Painted surfaces which are peeling, flaking or weathered must be scraped and covered with an appropriate protective coating or covering.
- Broken windows must be repaired promptly with glass or an equivalent material.
- House numbers must be placed in a position that is clearly visible from the street and must be a minimum of 4" high.
Pets and Animals
- Animals must have appropriate licenses, inoculations, food, water and shelter from the weather.
- Animals must be on a leash or restrained by a fence at all times when they are outdoors. Animals may not be unattended in the front yard, whether on a leash or not.
- Animals running free may be impounded by the City and turned over to the Clayton County Animal Shelter.
Miscellaneous
- Swimming pools must be maintained to prevent health hazards, and free from debris, leaves, rodents, etc. All pools must be fenced and have self-latching gates.
- Garage or yard sales are permitted on your own property three times a year for three consecutive days. Signs advertising the sale are only permitted on your property or other private property with the owner's permission.
- Signs of any kind are prohibited from being posted in the right-of-way, which is generally the area of the street between the power poles and curb line. Signs placed illegally in the right-of-way are removed daily by the City and subject to a citation.
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ANIMAL CONTROL
The Animal Control Division of Planning, Building and Zoning is designed to protect human health and safety as affected by domestic and wild animals, to ensure the welfare of animals, and to educate the public on these matters. To enforce all animal ordinances, and serve as liaison to County and State animal control agencies.
Animal Control Officer V.L. Johnson is available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to assist in any wild or domestic animal issue. Officer Johnson may be contacted at 404-608-2300. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends and holidays the Police Department handles certain Animal Control duties on an emergency basis such as: Animal Bite, Vicious Animal Call, Owner Incarceration, etc.
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ENVIRONMENTAL COURT
This Division of the City of Forest Park Municipal Court was enacted in 1995. The Court is designed to fairly, equitably, and expeditiously adjudicate cases concerning environmental issues, ordinance violations, zoning compliance, property maintenance, and housing code violations. This court is streamlined in its areas of responsibility to deal with ordinance violations, environmental in nature and excludes criminal cases. This court has been very successful in its efforts to mitigate and resolve non-compliance issues. The Environmental Court convenes on the second and fourth Wednesday each month at 1:00 p.m. in the courtroom located in the Agnes B. Bateman Community Development Building located at 785 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Georgia 30297. Contact Environmental Court at 404-608-2303.
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