Holly Springs To Discuss Proposed Rezoning Moratorium

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HOLLY SPRINGS, GA -- In light of a spike of rezoning applications submitted to the city of Holly Springs, the small town's mayor is floating the idea of implementing a moratorium on those requests.

Holly Springs leaders on Monday will discuss a possible moratorium of rezonings in the Hickory Flat area, said Mayor Tim Downing.

The discussion will take place during the City Council's work session, which will start at 7 p.m. April 4 in the Municipal Court Chambers.

Downing said he envisions the area would encompass the Hickory Flat area, including portions of East Cherokee Drive, Hickory Road and possibly S.R. 140.

Downing states the proposed halt could impact new applications submitted after the moratorium's adoption.

Downing said he's been in contact with Cherokee County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens about "concepts and ideas of how to improve infrastructure while slowing down residential zoning until we get a better handle on this issue."

"The moratorium was an idea I had to move forward jointly so we could work together on the issue," he said.

Downing added Ahrens will discuss the moratorium with his fellow commissioners. The mayor stated how long the moratorium would be in effect would depend on various factors that could be hashed out during discussions between the city and county.

"Ultimately, this moratorium does not work if both entities don't see the logic in it," he added. "If the city approves it and the county doesn't or vice versa, then you can still have residential zonings in this defined area. The spirit of this agreement would also be to put emphasis on strategies and solutions to improve infrastructure which, of course, is critical."

In the end, he added, the time frame would need to be reasonable and spelled out according to the goals of both entities.

"While these zonings have become a source of controversy in our community, it is not necessarily the product that is the problem, but the lack of improvements currently planned for the near future for our infrastructure," Downing stated. "We have to figure this out quickly and my hopes are this would be a start in finding those solutions."

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