§ 4.15.1. Purpose, intent, and authority.

1)

Statement of purpose. It is the purpose of this district to establish standards for the design of sites, buildings, structures, plantings, signs, street hardware and such other improvements that are visible to the public and affect the physical development of land within certain designated transportation corridors.

The following standards shall be considered in evaluating projects proposed within the corridor overlay district.

(a)

All structures will be evaluated on the overall appearance of the project and shall be based on the quality of its design and its relationship to the surrounding area.

(b)

The quality of design goes beyond the materials of construction to include scale, mass, color, proportion, and compatibility with adjoining developments.

(c)

Colors shall be harmonious and only the use of compatible accents shall be permitted.

(d)

Building components, such as windows, doors, eaves, and parapets, shall have good proportions and relationships to one another.

(e)

Any design in which the structure frame is exposed to view, the structural materials shall be compatible within themselves and harmonious with their surroundings.

(f)

Monotony of design in single or multiple building projects shall be avoided. Variation of detail, form, and siting shall be used to provide visual interest. In multiple building projects, variable siting or individual buildings may be used to prevent a monotonous appearance.

2)

Statement of intent. These standards are intended to promote high quality creative development that will combine imagination, innovation and variety in the appearance of buildings and sites in the overlay zone. These standards are further intended to preserve and enhance property values and to promote the public health, safety and welfare by providing for consistent, and coordinated treatment of the property encompassed by the selected transportation corridors.

Originally, a public meeting was held on March 18, 2004 in an effort to seek citizen preference regarding current growth and development patterns in Paulding County. An additional public hearing was held for this amendment on January 24, 2006. Public information was obtained in 2004 through a Visual Preference Survey (VPS). The survey allowed citizens an opportunity to state whether they liked a photo of a development or disliked it based on design standards. Those citizens that provided input through the VPS expressed an interest in promoting developments that will allow Paulding County to grow in positive, sustainable patterns. These standards include regulatory control and design of building development and materials, parking areas, signage, transportation (pedestrian and vehicular), greenspace and trees/vegetation.

3)

Authority. Authority underlying creation of the corridor overlay zones district is provided for in O.C.G.A. Section 36-66-2, Section 11 of the Paulding County Enabling Legislation and the Paulding County Code of Ordinances, 2003 Zoning Ordinance, Article XV.

4)

Statement of significance.

(a)

State Route 120 (Marietta Highway) traverses the county from the east to the southwest providing access to Cobb County and Haralson County. State Route 120 (Marietta Highway) is a divided, four-lane with median from the Cobb County line to its intersection and convergence with U.S. Highway 278. For initial purposes, only the portion of Marietta Highway from the Cobb County line to the intersection with Highway 278 was included in the Corridor Overlay Zone. Marietta Highway is considered by the Paulding County Comprehensive Plan and associated Future Land Use Map to be one of the county's primary commercial corridors. Future development of this highly visible corridor will dramatically change the image of Paulding County. With this amendment, the remaining portion of State Route 120, traversing to the west from U.S. 278 through to the Haralson County line shall be included as a transportation corridor in order to create continuity with the other portions of State Route 120.   

(b)

Bill Carruth Parkway f/k/a West Hiram Parkway is located in the east-central portion of the county, west of the City of Hiram. The parkway begins at the intersection of Marietta Highway with U.S. Highway 278 and extends southward until it intersects with State Route 92 (Hiram-Douglasville Highway), South of Hiram. The highway serves as both connector and bypass route. Bill Carruth Parkway is expected to have significant development over the next five years. This development will change the suburban character of the corridor into a more intense urban environment. The impact of new development upon this corridor will create a setting that commands the highest standards of development which encourage efficient use of land, promote coordinated development, permit innovative site designs, establish development standards and preserve the integrity of the roadways within this corridor.

(c)

In addition thereto, State Route 92 and State Route 61 traverse the county from Douglasville to Acworth and Villa Rica to Cartersville, respectively. Both state routes are heavily traveled and are the sites of varied new developments. The introduction of the corridor overlay district will encourage the development in this area to project a uniform, high-quality appearance.

(d)

U.S. Highway 278 is the most heavily traveled roadway in Paulding County, and is one of only two four-lane highways in the county. It traverses the county from Powder Springs in Cobb County to Rockmart in Polk County. U.S. 278 travels through the county's current commercial center, Hiram. As U.S. 278 is considered by the Paulding County Comprehensive Plan and associated future land use map to be one of the county's primary commercial corridors, future development of this highly visible corridor will dramatically change the image of Paulding County.

(e)

The East Hiram Parkway is a proposed highway corridor which will begin at the terminus of the Bill Carruth Parkway and continue through the eastern portion of Paulding County. The highway serves as both connector and bypass route. East Hiram Parkway is expected to have significant development over the next five years. This development will change the suburban character of the corridor into a more intense urban environment. The impact of new development upon this corridor will create a setting that commands the highest standards of development which encourage efficient use of land, promote coordinated development, permit innovative site designs, establish development standards and preserve the integrity of the roadways within this corridor.

(f)

In addition thereto, all state routes in the county are designated as commercial areas in the future land use map and comprehensive plan. Paulding County does not have interstate access and therefore, the state routes remain the only other viable commercial corridors. Thus, it is important that these areas develop in a consistent manner to ensure the highest standards of development which encourage efficient use of land, promote coordinated development, permit innovative site designs, establish development standards and preserve the integrity of the roadways within this corridor.

(g)

In recent years, Ridge Road has emerged as a mixed use corridor in the new Georgia area with commercial and residential developments throughout the length of the thruway. Ridge Road extends from State Route 92 to State Route 61. As Ridge Road continues to develop, it will be important to ensure continuity with design, quality, workmanship and materials in order to complete a visually pleasing development area.

(h)

Finally, the airport access road will serve as the gateway to the newly constructed Paulding County General Aviation Airport.

(i)

Based upon the data set forth above, the transportation corridors subject to these provisions are as follows:

1.

State Route 101 and State Route 113

2.

State Route 120 a/k/a Buchanan Highway

3.

State Route 120 a/k/a Marietta Highway

4.

State Route 120 connector a/k/a Scoggins Road and Hiram Sudie Road

5.

U.S. Highway 278

6.

State Route 61 a/k/a Cartersville Highway and Villa Rica Highway

7.

State Route 92 a/k/a Hiram-Acworth Highway, Hiram-Douglasville Highway and Dallas-Acworth Highway

8.

East Hiram Parkway

9.

Bill Carruth Parkway (West Hiram Parkway)

10.

Business route SR 6 a/k/a Atlanta Highway

11.

Macland Road, including State Route 360

12.

Dallas-Acworth Highway f/k/a/ State Route 381

13.

Ridge Road

14.

Access road to the Paulding County General Aviation Airport to be located off U.S. 278

5)

Title. This portion of the zoning ordinance shall be known as the corridor overlay district of the County of Paulding.