Caledonia Argus

County passes adult-use law

Posted: 5/18/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Houston County commissioners passed an adult-use ordinance at a May 3 hearing in the courthouse in Caledonia.

Adult-use businesses refer to things like adult bookstores, cabarets, and clubs. The 10-page ordinance specifies things that are banned, such as the display of anatomical areas, and sexual activities.

Adult-use businesses must now be located only in limited industrial districts and general industrial districts of Houston County. These are nine of these districts in Houston County.

They must also be set back 1,000 feet from churches, parks, daycares, and school. Plus owners will have to fill out an adult-use license application, which the board will approve, and pay an annual fee of $1,000.

Several other ordinances were changed at the meeting.

ï Wind power ordinance: The county board also approved an ordinance regulating wind power generators between the size of 40 kilowatts and five megawatts.

Setbacks from residences and property lines are the key part of this in case a tower tips over, county planning and zoning administrator Bob Scanlan told The Argus. Towers must be 750 feet from a residence, and one foot per foot of total height from property lines and rights of way.

The Houston County Planning Commission also made several changes. They are listed here.

ï Building permits on permanent agricultural structures: Scanlan said that his department was told to brainstorm ways to generate income due to budget cuts that have occurred in the county recently, so they added this. The cost will be $75 for the first $50,000 value, up to a $300 fee for a project valued at $150,000. He didnít think people would object to the new requirement. ìThey need permits for everything else, so they kind of half expect it,î he said.

ï Raise penalty for not having a building permit: The penalty had been $75, but now will be double the permit fee. For example, a conditional use permit fee is $250, so starting a project without that will result in a $500 fine.

The county planning commission made this decision because people were starting projects and getting permits later. ìThe planning commissioners wanted to know where these projects were happening,î Scanlan said.

ï EIS request: The board passed a resolution stating that it may request an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) if it feels it is necessary. For example, if a project is proposed for an area that contains sinkholes, the county could ask for an EIS and have the person doing the project pay for it.

ï Commercial outdoor recreation hearing: The county now requires any outdoor event such as paintballing or tractor pulls that charge spectators or participants to have a public hearing.

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