Community Development

The City of McDonough Community Development Department, 3rd floor - Municipal City Hall, assists interested individuals in addressing the "What is ..." of Comprehensive Land Use Planning (Existing/Future Land Use) and the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17) in relation to the "How to ..." of their participation in the city's development process. The Department staff deal directly with the Mayor/City Council; Planning Commission; Facade Committee; Board of Zoning Appeals in processing the fundamental/specialty items involved in its daily operations.

The fundamental/specialty items that the Community Development Department deals with are:

• Zoning/Land Use Designation
  Information on the zoning of property within the city and the permitted use(s) allowed per the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17) in relation to the Comprehensive Existing/Future Land Use Plans.
• Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Program
  Participation in the Atlanta Regional Commission sponsored venue to develop signature projects for advancement of short/long range planning initiatives in relation to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan with approval by the City Council.
• Annexations
  Annexation of land from the county into the jurisdictional boundaries of the city for advancement of short/long range planning initiatives in relation to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan with approval by the City Council.
• Rezoning
  Rezoning of land from existing zoning category to new zoning category for compatibility with adjacent developed/re-developing/proposed developed properties in relation to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan with approval by the City Council.
• Variances
  Variances from the regulatory requirements contained in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17) for development/re-development of zoned properties with approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Architectural Design Review
  Review/approval of exterior building materials of proposed non-residential/residential building construction development per the Facade Committee and City Council.
• Signage
  Review/approval of advertisement signage outlined in the regulatory requirements of the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17).

Information generated/processed within the Community Development Department by the professional planning staff thus provides the essential building blocks for the overall development process that seeks to unite the natural, human and built environments. Advancement in these core planning elements by the Community Development Department allow the Mayor and City Council to progress Quality of Life initiatives for economic sustainability. Thus, in turn the Economic Development Department and its subsidiaries (Main Street/Tourism) are able to promote the signature initiatives with endorsement by the City Administrator in order to secure and retain economic investments. The Building/Construction Department then provides construction management of the investment project to completion per plan approval through issuance of permits/ inspections/ code enforcement.