Forsyth County › Unified Development Code

Chapter 19 — Conservation Subdivisions, Article 7 — PROCEDURES

current as of 2026-04-02currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗4 sections · full chapter

§ 19-7.1

Pre-application Conference.

A pre-application conference with the department is required at least fourteen (14) days prior to the submission of a rezoning or sketch plat application. Once scheduled, county staff shall notify the appropriate district commissioner of the meeting date and time. At the time of a pre-application conference, an Existing Features and Site Analysis Report, as detailed in section 19-7.2, shall be submitted and a site visit, as detailed in section 19-7.3, shall be scheduled. In the event amendments to the Existing Features and Site Analysis Report are necessary as a result of information gathered during the site visit, an updated report shall be submitted in accordance with 19-7.3. Refer to figure 19.2 for guidance on the order of procedures. At the applicant’s request, the department shall make available all relevant information about primary and secondary conservation areas, including soil survey, natural resource maps, and geographic information, for which reasonable reproduction costs for this information may be charged. Ideally, the pre-application conference will be preceded by the submittal of a boundary survey of the property to be subdivided with sufficient time for the Department to collect applicable information.

§ 19-7.2

Existing Features and Site Analysis Report.

The purpose of the existing features and site analysis report is to familiarize County staff with existing site conditions and shall form the basis for the development design as shown on the concept plan. This report shall consist of a map and narrative identifying and describing all important existing site features in accordance with the list below and shall be sealed by a registered engineer or landscape architect to ensure accuracy. The following features shall be included where applicable:

(A)Significant wildlife habitats, if any. If information on habitats is not available, the wildlife potential of various soil types on the site shall be included with the soil analysis.

(B)Soils, including analysis of suitability for septic tanks, and erosion potential as shown on the National Cooperative Soil Survey developed by the National Resources Conservation Service.

(C)Wetlands as shown as shown on the National Wetlands Inventory developed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(D)Flood plains. Areas of 100 year flood plain as identified on flood hazard boundary maps or flood insurance rate maps developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(E)Steep mountain slopes and steep slopes of thirty-five (35%) percent or greater as defined by this Code.

(F)Slopes between twenty-five percent (25%) and thirty-five percent (35%).

(G)Historic, archaeological, and cultural features. Applicant shall refer to the Forsyth County Historic Resources Survey and data from the State Archeologist (Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources) when developing in areas of suspected cultural and/or historical resources. Photos of such features, if existing, shall be required.

(H)Tree cover, existing forests including acreage, and/or specimen tree stands with critical root zone identified per the Forsyth County Tree Ordinance.

(I)Orchards.

(J)Open meadows and/or pastures including acreage.

(K)Views into and out from the site, and any scenic qualities. Photos and/or illustrations shall be required.

(L)Aquifer recharge areas as shown on Hydrogeologic Atlas 18 developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

§ 19-7.3

Site Visit.

The purpose of the site visit is to familiarize staff with the property's existing conditions and special features, to identify potential site design issues, and to provide an informal opportunity to discuss site design concepts, including the general layout of the designated open space areas and potential locations for proposed buildings and street alignments. Comments made by staff regarding design shall be interpreted as being only suggestive. It shall be understood by all parties that no formal recommendations will be offered, and no official decisions can be made during the site visit. In the event that staff determines that existing site features have not been fully represented within the Existing Features and Site Analysis Report, the applicant shall amend the report and submit it to accompany other application requirements in accordance with sections 8-5.4 and 8-5.5 of this Code, adhering to required departmental deadlines.

§ 19-7.4

Yield Plan or Adjusted Tract Acreage Method.

Along with all other required documents and site plan submittals for rezoning and/or sketch plat applications, applicants shall submit one (1) of the following:

(A)A yield plan that demonstrates the number of lots that would be generated if the site were developed as a conventional subdivision, or

(B)An adjusted tract acreage calculation detailing the values used to arrive at the maximum number of lots in accordance with section 19-4.1(B).

PROCEDURES

Pre-application Conference Site Visit Application Submittal for Zoning Review ARTICLE VIII, EASEMENTS AND OWNERSHIP: