Gwinnett leaders voted to remove an added level of building requirements from an area around U.S. Highway 78 in the county, but said they would consider adding it back in several months, and might require enhancements in other areas.
The requirements, known as an overlay district, were removed at the behest of a community improvement group in the area. The group, known as Evermore, has been steadily working to improve the district, executive director Jim Brooks said.
He said other community improvement districts were not subject to the same building requirements. There are other areas of the county that do have overlays, including the Mall of Georgia area, Hamilton Mill and the Civic Center.
Commissioners agreed to remove the overlay, which is meant to create a consistent visual feel among landscaping and architecture in an area. But they directed county employees to look in to whether all of the county’s community improvement districts should be subject to the requirements.
Commissioner Jace Brooks voted against the measure, which was approved 4-1. It was part of an update to Gwinnett’s Unified Development Ordinance, and include clarifications about fireworks sales, water planning and other amendments.
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