Cherokee County is the latest metro Atlanta government to oppose a state bill that would preempt local control of building design standards.
The county Board of Commissioners approved a resolution, to be sent to members of Cherokee County’s legislative delegation, that objects to HB 302, a measure backed by home builders and housing component manufacturers.
It would prevent localities from imposing design standards on residential construction, including restrictions on building material, color and layout.
“Some local governments may have overreached and required things that seem excessive, and that may have brought this on,” County Board Chairman Harry Johnston told commissioners.
“The argument is that this handicaps the ability to build affordable housing, and that may be true, but we also know the source of this request primarily comes from contractors and providers of materials like vinyl siding that are often prohibited,” Johnston said. “So it’s not something we really want to have taken from us, and this resolution expresses our support for not passing any such legislation.”
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