Just an hour east of bustling Atlanta, the City of Social Circle, Georgia is a tight-knit community with a penchant for small-town charm. The city’s strategic location, along with its picturesque agricultural landscapes and historic downtown, has garnered attention from national and regional employers, contributing to a significant growth in population.
In response to the evolving times, the city recognized the need to modernize its traditional Zoning Ordinance, consolidating it into a single, cohesive Unified Development Code (UDC) that embodies all relevant regulations.
The development of the Social Circle UDC was born from extensive discussions involving a diverse spectrum of community stakeholders, staff and elected officials. This collaborative effort yielded a new framework that streamlines land development processes and fortifies protections for watersheds and tree canopies.
The Unified Development Code also incorporates National Register of Historic Places-compatible design guidelines for both redevelopment and new construction initiatives. It introduces supplemental use standards for industrial operations and offers greater flexibility for emerging businesses, agricultural land uses and non-conforming lots of record.
The culmination of this project is a transformative code that adeptly addresses critical zoning elements, positioning Social Circle to embrace a dynamic future that simultaneously preserves the essence of its cherished small-town character.
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