Partner Melissa Griffis heads Horne & Griffis’ land use and zoning practice. She has appeared more than any other attorney in the City of Newnan and Coweta County on zoning matters. Why trust your potentially complicated and costly zoning issues to any other firm?
Horne & Griffis boasts wide experience in zoning map amendments, zoning text amendments, and variances. We have successfully represented property owners at the application stage, at hearings in front of governmental bodies, and in litigation in state and federal courts. Our zoning team represents clients across the country from our offices in Newnan, Georgia.
Zoning regulates land use. These laws try to balance a property owner’s right to use his or her property with the public’s right to be protected from the uses of others. Zoning laws have been repeatedly held to be constitutional so long as there is no abuse of discretion and the laws are not arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable. The Georgia Zoning Procedures Law gives due process to the general public when local governments exercise zoning power.
Rezoning can take two forms: 1) text amendments amending the zoning law itself, or 2) map amendments changing the mapping classification of one or more properties. Rezoning normally begins when a land owner applies for rezoning. Next, there is a public hearing, followed by action by the body. If the land owner is dissatisfied, he or she can take legal action (usually within 30 days).
Sometimes, rather than a rezoning, a property owner requests a variance from the zoning ordinance. Variances generally involve a petition for relief. You might request a variance if you think the zoning ordinance creates an unnecessary or unreasonable hardship.