Getting Started with DeKalb County Zoning
There’s nothing more unsettling than finding out a developer has big plans for your neighborhood. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? How does your neighborhood fit in to the plan? Who do you talk to if you have a question? If you’re unfamiliar with the zoning process, not sure what questions you should ask the developer or where to go to find information, it can be stressful and even exhausting.
The citizens play a major role in shaping the communities they live in.
Luckily, in Unincorporated DeKalb County, there’s a fair amount of checks and balances throughout the zoning process. Along with your community’s involvement, the planning staff, Community Council, Planning Commission, District Commissioners and sometimes even the Zoning Board of Appeals all play a role when a property is rezoned. The council & commission members depend on your input to make their recommendations at meetings. These officials maintain the idea that zoning in DeKalb County is a citizen-led process. The problem is, how can you lead a process you’re unfamiliar with? Where do you start if you’ve never been through the process before? Understanding the basics will give you insight and enable you to directly impact meaningful growth in your neighborhood.
Learning the Basics
In the next few pages. we’ll cover the core information you’ll need to get you started in the process. From finding out who your commissioners are, to learning about the different meetings you’ll attend during the entire zoning process. Learning the basics will help you communicate more effectively with developers and public officials. It will also empower you and your neighborhood when you’re tasked with figuring out what’s best for your community.