Complete UDC - Forsyth County Government

Chapter 21, Overlay Districts
Unified Development Code of Forsyth County - 21 - 1 -
ARTICLE I, GENERAL PROVISIONS:
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
OVERLAY DISTRICTS
21-1.1 Purpose. The purpose of overlay districts established by Chapter Nine, Article I of this Code is to
conserve natural resources or realize development objectives without unduly disturbing the expectations for
development allowed by the existing zoning district provisions applicable to particular properties. The existing
zoning district provisions may properly regulate the relevant district, in general, but more specific and targeted
provisions contained in an overlay district are needed to accomplish pressing land use objectives.
21-1.2 Applicability. The provisions of this Chapter are applicable to those parcels within
unincorporated Forsyth County that have particular development constraints:
(A) The protected water supply watershed overlays as designated in Chapter 9 of this Code consist of the
land areas that drain to the public water supply intake or water supply reservoir. The boundaries of
these overlays are defined by the ridge lines of the respective watersheds and the boundary of a radius
of seven (7) miles upstream of the respective public water supply intakes.
(B) The protected groundwater recharge area overlay district, as designated in Chapter 9, consist of all
lands within the jurisdiction of Forsyth County, Georgia that are mapped as significant recharge areas
by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Hydrologic Atlas 18, 1989 edition.
(C) The Etowah River Corridor Protection District overlay district, as designated in Chapter 9, consist of
all areas within one hundred (100) feet horizontally on both sides of the Etowah River, in Forsyth
County.
(D) Wetland Protection District overlay districts, as designated in Chapter 9, consist of all wetlands within
the jurisdiction of Forsyth County.
ARTICLE II, PROTECTED WATER SUPPLY WATERSHED OVERLAY DISTRICT:
21-2.1 Minimum Criteria for the Big Creek Small Water Supply Watershed.
(A) Permitted Uses for Perennial Stream Corridors within a Seven Mile Radius Upstream of a
Governmentally Owned Public Drinking Water Supply Intake. All uses allowed in the underlying
zoning districts as established by this Code except for those listed in prohibited uses below are
permitted in the Water Supply Watershed Protection Overlay District, subject to the following
conditions and standards:
(1) A buffer shall be maintained for a distance of 100 feet on both sides of the stream as measure from
the stream banks.
(2) No impervious surface shall be constructed within a 150 foot setback area on both sides of the
stream as measured from the stream banks.
(3) Septic tanks and septic tanks drainfields are prohibited in the setback areas of (b) above.
(B) Permitted Uses for Perennial Stream Corridors outside a Seven Mile Radius Upstream of a
Governmentally Owned Public Drinking Water Supply Intake. All uses allowed in the underlying
zoning districts as established by this Code except for those listed in prohibited uses below are
permitted in the Water Supply Watershed Protection Overlay District, subject to the following
conditions and standards:
(1) A buffer shall be maintained for a distance of fifty (50) feet on both sides of the stream as measure
from the stream banks.
(2) No impervious surface shall be constructed within a seventy-five (75) foot setback area on both
sides of the stream as measured from the stream banks.
(3) Septic tanks and septic tanks drainfields are prohibited in the setback areas of (b) above.
(C) General Criteria for the Big Creek Small Water Supply Watershed: The following criteria apply to all
locations in a small water supply watershed:
(1) New sanitary landfills are allowed only if they have synthetic liners and leachate collection
systems.
(2) New hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities are prohibited.
(3) The impervious surface area, including all public and private structures, utilities, or facilities, for
that portion of the water supply watershed within unincorporated Forsyth County shall be limited