Henry County passed a moratorium earlier this year in the Timber Ridge area between Ola and Union Grove. Now, they have enlarged the moratorium to cover a larger area. The purpose behind the moratorium is to complete a small area master plan.
Timber Ridge Moratorium
Henry County first passed the Timber Ridge moratorium in May 2024. At the time, it encompassed properties to the east of Georgia 20 and north of Turner Church Road. This was an area of about 5,100 acres. The board passed an updated moratorium on October 1. They enlarged the area to now include properties west of Georgia 20. This extends between Georgia 20 and Elliott Road, east to west. It also extends from East Lake Road to Big Cotton Indian Creek, south to north. The new area adds about 2,600 acres to the moratorium.
According to District 3 Commissioner Dee Anglyn, the county determined the new area should be part of the small area master plan. He shared the following:
We are wanting to expand [the moratorium] due to the master plan for the North Ola area. Following a stakeholder meeting, it became aware to us that it would be in the benefit of the North Ola community if we go ahead and include the additional parcels north of [Georgia] 20. There is no additional cost associated with this. Moore Bass Consulting who is handling [the master plan] said they would include this in the current master plan.
Commissioner Dee Anglyn, Board of Commissioners meeting October 1, 2024
Anglyn continued the moratorium applies to rezoning requests, comp plan amendments and / or development permits. The moratorium rejects applications for new subdivisions or commercial development within the area. It does not prevent a land owner from building a single-family home or accessory structure.
The board unanimously approved expanding the moratorium. It will remain in effect until the area master plan is complete.
What is a Small Area Master Plan?
The small area master plan is intended to provide policy recommendations tailored specifically to the area in question. It will establish standards for any future development to follow. This can include, but not limited to, signage, landscaping and streetscape requirements, as well as building and lot design standards.
In September, Henry County adopted a moratorium in the vicinity of Atlanta Motor Speedway and Atlanta Speedway Airport. That moratorium is also so the county can pursue a small area master plan.
Editor’s note: Henry County refers to this area as North Ola. MHF News refers to it as Timber Ridge, based on its concentration around Timber Ridge Elementary and the vicinity.
Featured image shows a map of the now-enlarged Timber Ridge moratorium. Clayton Carte / MHF News map created with Datawrapper.
