Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 110 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Chapter 110-12 - MINIMUM STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES › Subject 110-12-7 - DEVELOPMENTS OF REGIONAL IMPACT: ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS: ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION › Rule 110-12-7-.01 - Purpose & Overview

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
General.
The Georgia
				Planning Act authorizes the Department of Community Affairs (the Department) to
				establish the specific thresholds, rules, and procedures for the identification
				of and communication about Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) that are
				provided in these rules. These rules are applicable to all local governments
				and Regional Commissions in the State. The intent of the DRI rules is: improved
				local, regional and state level communication about new growth in the state.
				Communication of this nature will aid in maximizing the positive benefits of
				new development projects while minimizing their adverse effects. The end result
				should improve development outcomes for the host jurisdiction, neighboring
				jurisdictions, the region, and the state. The DRI rules are also intended to
				coordinate, streamline, and provide consistency with the Georgia Regional
				Transportation Authority's (GRTA) required review and approval of state and
				federal expenditures required to create land transportation services and access
				to DRIs located within GRTA's jurisdictional area pursuant to O.C.G.A.
				50-32-14. The effective date of
				these rules is March 1, 2013.
(2)
Overview.
The rules require that:
(a) Local governments considering action on
				any development project that may meet or exceed the thresholds specified in
				section 110-12-7-.05(1)(a)
				must submit the project to their Regional Commission for determination of
				whether it is a DRI.
(b) If the
				Regional Commission determines that the project is a DRI, the project must be
				handled in accordance with the procedures in Chapter
				110-12-7-.02 DRI Communication
				Procedures. The local government may not take final action approving the
				project while the DRI process is ongoing. See section
				110-12-7-.03(4)
				for actions that the local government may take while the DRI process is
				underway.
(c) The Regional
				Commission will manage the distribution of information about the project to
				neighboring jurisdictions, potentially affected parties, and State entities and
				will coordinate a process guaranteeing those jurisdictions, parties, and
				entities an opportunity to provide official comment upon projects that may
				impact them.
(d) Upon the request
				of the host jurisdiction, the Regional Commission may evaluate the development
				project for its local impacts, economic benefits, potential effects on
				neighboring jurisdictions, consistency with quality growth principles and/or
				considerations identified in the Regional Commission's Regional Plan.
(e) At the completion of the DRI process,
				which shall not last more than 30 calendar days (unless process extensions are
				taken as provided for in section
				110-12-7-.02(10)(c)),
				the Regional Commission will assemble a report including comments received from
				neighboring jurisdictions, potentially affected parties, and State entities
				along with the results of any analysis it may have been requested to conduct
				pursuant to section (d), above, including any recommendations for maximizing
				potential positive outcomes and economic benefits, reducing potential adverse
				interjurisdictional impacts and other suggestions for improvement of the
				project. The local government is encouraged to consider the contents of the DRI
				report in making its decisions related to the project.