HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 22-03-581 - 03/07/2022 - Opposing HB 1093 & SB 494' STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF FULTON
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MILTON, GEORGIA, OPPOSING HB 1093 AND SB 494 AND OPPOSING
LIMITATIONS ON A MUNICIPALITY'S AUTHORITY TO MAKE
HOUSING, LAND USE AND ZONING DECISIONS WITHIN A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT'S GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES
WHEREAS, Mayor and Council for the City of Milton, Georgia ("City") have reviewed
HB 1093 and SB 494 ("Bills"), currently being considered in the Georgia General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the Bills would prohibit local governments from addressing newly developed
corporate rental subdivisions through any regulation, restriction or condition that is not the same
for single-family residential areas; and
WHEREAS, the Bills are aimed at allowing unlimited access for corporations to develop
"build to rent" subdivisions which vary greatly in price, quality, management and tenant
protections; and
WHEREAS, the City opposes the Bills for a number of reasons, including the fact that the
Georgia Constitution recognizes zoning and land use decisions are core functions of local
governments, and housing is a large component of those decisions; and
WHEREAS, local elected officials are responsible for ensuring affordable, predictable
housing options within their respective communities; and
WHEREAS, such housing and land use decisions are best made at the local level through
comprehensive planning and citizen input; and
WHEREAS, to ensure vibrant and sustainable communitites, local governments require
flexibility to decide what is appropriate for their community's neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, no city or county in the State of Georgia has taken action to limit the rights
of a homeowner to rent out property through a long-term lease agreement; and
WHEREAS, home ownership is a financial asset that historically has been affordable to
all economic levels; and
WHEREAS, rising costs in construction, land and materials are pushing the reality of
home ownership further from the reach of more and more Americans, particularly young families;
and
WHEREAS, home ownership and the growing equity value it provides is a source of
capital for families to start businesses, send children to college, build retirement nest eggs, provide
financial resources during financial emergencies, offer an asset to provide services such as assisted
living or nursing care or cover a myriad other financial and economic resources to weather life
challenges; and
WHEREAS, these and other benefits are why preserving opportunities for homeownership
has long been a high priority of public policy in the United States; and
WHEREAS, good public policy requires a balance of housing options to meet individual
needs; however, the Bills remove local decision making from the type and mix of housing
available; and
WHEREAS, the superiority of local determination of the type of housing available in a
community is one reason why local governmental control of zoning and land use is enshrined in
Georgia's State Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the removal of local oversight and the negating of local policy goals inherent
in the Bills allows outside forces to determine the type of housing available in a community with
no need to work with existing community stakeholders wishing to have a voice in the process; and
WHEREAS, protecting property rights is an important component of good public policy,
but good public policy also takes into consideration the property rights, property values and the
neighborhood characteristics that purchasers relied on when investing their lifesavings in their
' current home;
THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE Mayor and Council of the City
of Milton, Georgia, that this governing body hereby objects to and opposes any legislation or act
limiting a local government's authority to make land -use and zoning decisions within its
geographical boundaries; and
BE IT FURTHER HEREBY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be delivered to
each member of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate representing the City of Milton,
and made available for distribution to the public and the press.
RESOLVED, this 7' day of March, 2022.
MIT
LN O" *
ESTABLISHED 2006
March 11, 2022
Senator Brandon Beach
3100 Brierfield Road
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Senator John Albers
101 Vickery St.
Roswell, GA 30075
Representative Jan Jones
12850 Highway 9 Suite 600-356
Milton, GA 30004
RE: Resolution of Opposition - HB 1093 and SB 494
Dear Honorable Representatives,
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
Peyton Jamison Andrea Verhoff Carol Cookerly
Juliette Johnson Paul Moore
Jan C. Jacobus Rick Mohrig
The City of Milton has adopted a Resolution formally opposing HB 1093 and SB 494 and
opposing limitations on a municipalities authority to make housing, land use and zoning
decisions within a local government's geographical boundaries. The Resolution
approved by the City Council and signed by the Mayor on March 7, 2022, is attached
to this letter. The City of Milton believes this opposition is warranted and the Council's
vote for these oppositions was unanimous.
I know your time is valuable and you are faced with many competing demands. In this,
as with all things, the City appreciates your ongoing commitment to and investment in
our citizens.
Kind Regards,
Tammy Lowit
City Clerk
Attachment: Resolution No. R22-03-581
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