HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 20-02-531 - 02/03/2020 - Opposing House Bill 302STATE OF GEORGIA
FULTON COUNTY
RESOLUTION NO 20-02-531
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA
OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 302, PREEMPTION OF LOCAL BUILDING DESIGN
STANDARDS
WHEREAS, HB 302 would prohibit local governments from regulating "building design
elements" in single or double family dwellings, which could negatively impact economic
development efforts and harm competitiveness; and
WHEREAS, appropriate local design standards and land use policies create a diverse, stable,
profitable and sustainable residential development landscape; and
WHEREAS, HB 302 is a bill that would undermine self-determination of citizens to establish
community standards as illustrated by the following:
• Municipal and county officials are elected in part to make decisions about the look
and feel of their communities, which fosters economic development, preserves the
character of communities; and
• Municipalities and counties use design standards to ensure that the property values of
surrounding property owners remain protected from incompatible development; and
• HB 302 would severely erode the ability of all 538 Georgia cities and 159 counties to
address unique and community -specific quality of life issues.
WHEREAS, county and municipal governments use building design standards to protect
property values, attract high quality builders, and block incompatible development; and
WHEREAS, building design standards assure residents and business owners that their
investments will be protected, and that others who come behind them will be equally committed
to quality; and
WHEREAS, local governments spend a large amount of resources studying, surveying, crafting,
and defining their vision and development strategies, and design standards are an integral part of
those endeavors to attract residents, businesses, and the much -coveted trained workforce; and
WHEREAS, development and redevelopment efforts should reflect the community and its
vision while simultaneously creating a sense of place; and
WHEREAS, county and municipal government officials are elected to make decisions about the
look and feel of their communities, and HB 302 would transfer that power from duly -elected
local leaders to outside groups with little to no stake in the future or success of Georgia's
municipalities, including real estate developers and homebuilders; and
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WHEREAS, building design standards neither discourage nor favor affordable housing, nor
prevent the availability of certain housing types, as supporters of HB 302 purport; and
WHEREAS, local governments should have the ability to provide more affordable housing
options without sacrificing their unique character or threatening economic growth; and
WHEREAS, although historic districts are protected in HB 302, which indicates an
understanding that standards do in fact make sense, downtown overlays or other similar special
zoning districts are not; and
WHEREAS, local governments should be empowered to enforce building design standards to
make today's thriving downtown tomorrow's historic district; and
WHEREAS, by limiting the ability of local governments to enforce building design standards in
single or double family dwellings, HB 302 would negatively impact quality -of -life issues,
including economic growth and the safety and welfare of Georgia citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Mayor and City Council that the
governing body voices its opposition to HB 302, Preemption of Local Building Design
Standards.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be delivered to members of the
City of Milton local delegation and made available for distribution to the public and the press.
The above Resolution was read and approved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton
on the 3rd day of February 2020.
Attest:
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Sudie AM Gordon, City Clerk
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Joe Lockwood, Mayor