GA Code § 50-8-30 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 50 - State Government|Chapter 8 - Department of Community Affairs|Article 2 - Regional Commissions|Part 1 - Legislative Findings|§ 50-8-30. Legislative Findings and Intent; Construction of Article

 The local governments of the State of Georgia are of vital importance to the state and its citizens. The state has an essential public interest in promoting, developing, sustaining, and assisting local governments. The natural resources, environment, and vital areas of the state are also of vital importance to the state and its citizens. The state has an essential public interest in establishing minimum standards for land use in order to protect and preserve its natural resources, environment, and vital areas. Coordinated and comprehensive planning by local governments, under direction from the state, is necessary in order to serve these essential public interests of the state. The purpose of this article is to provide for regional commissions to develop, promote, and assist in establishing coordinated and comprehensive land use, environmental, transportation, and historic preservation planning in the state, to assist local governments to participate in an orderly process for coordinated and comprehensive planning, to assist local governments to prepare and implement comprehensive plans which will develop and promote the essential public interests of the state and its citizens and advance positive governmental relations among the state, regional, and local levels, and to prepare and implement comprehensive regional plans which will develop and promote the essential public interests of the state and its citizens. This article shall be construed liberally to achieve its purpose. This article is enacted pursuant to the authority granted the General Assembly in the Constitution of the State of Georgia, including, but not limited to, the authority provided in Article III, Section VI, Paragraphs I and II(a)(1) and Article IX, Section II, Paragraphs III and IV.    (Code 1981, §50-8-30, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 181, § 5/HB 1216.)   Cross references.   - Approval by General Assembly of alteration of boundaries of a regional development center, § 50-8-4.   Administrative Rules and Regulations.   - Minimum planning standards and procedures for local comprehensive planning, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Office of Coordinated Planning, Chapter 110-3-2.   Minimum standards and procedures for local comprehensive planning, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Chapter 110-12-1.   Minimum standards and procedures for regional planning, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Chapter 110-12-6.   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former O.C.G.A. § 50-8-30, which was subsequently repealed but was succeeded by provisions in this Code section, are included in the annotations for this Code section.   Participation of county or municipality as member of Atlanta Regional Commission.    - County or municipality may participate as a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission for the limited purposes of federal laws and regulations governing metropolitan planning organizations while remaining a member of a regional development center other than the Atlanta Regional Commission so long as statutory processes and approvals are obtained. 2004 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 2004-1 (decided under former O.C.G.A. § 50-8-30).