
Earlier this month, the McDonough council renewed its apartment moratorium. This was the 6th renewal of the ongoing moratorium.
McDonough can continue the moratorium because it is actively working on a zoning code update with an outside consultant. The moratorium began in May 2022.
McDonough Apartment Moratorium 6th Renewal
The McDonough council approved two moratoriums during the May 2, 2024 council meeting. They cover the following:
- a prohibition on accepting rezoning requests for new apartments or townhomes, and ban on accepting building permit applications for hotels, and
- a prohibition on accepting rezoning requests for the R-50 (single-family) zoning district, and ban on accepting sign permit applications for illuminated signs within the downtown district.
Both moratoriums are until August 30, 2024; however, the city has often extended these moratoriums. The apartments moratorium first passed in May 2022. The council has extended it six times since then. The council first passed the moratorium on R-50 zoning in March 2023. This month’s action represents the 3rd renewal on it.
The city has contracted with The Collaborative Firm to update its zoning code. They first contracted with the firm in August 2022. The zoning code update took a break in 2023, so TCF could complete the city’s comp plan update. The McDonough Planning Commission recently heard an initial presentation about the code update. A representative from TCF presented to them in April 2024.
Although the moratorium prevents accepting new rezoning requests, it does not apply to already approved projects. Seven new apartment complexes have built within the city since 2020. Most recently, Woodlands Creekside began leasing on Jonesboro Road.
House Bill 514
During the 2023–2024 session, state lawmakers introduced a bill to prevent local governments from continuously extending the same moratorium. The state house and state senate both passed the measure; however, the two sides could not iron-out their differences in the bill before the session ended. Lawmakers may re-introduce the bill again in 2025.
Featured image shows garden-style apartments. Stock photo.
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