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Forsyth County schedules 176 summer camps
County clarifies rules governing poultry pursuits for ag districts By EVERETT CATTS newsroom@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County is clarifying its backyard chickens ordinance, and that’s something to cluck about. At its regular meeting/public hearing on May 2, the Forsyth Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve amending the part of the county’s unified development code (UDC) related to backyard chickens. Commissioner Kerry Hill was absent. In 2021, when the board initially approved the ordinance that allows residents to keep up to eight chickens in their backyards, it didn’t make changes to Chapter 15 of the UDC, which involves agricultural districts, County Attorney Ken Jarrard said during his presentation. Originally, the law was only going to apply to Forsyth County’s agricultural-residential district (agres), and residents wanting to house chickens in their backyards must have lots of at least half an acre, and the structures housing them would not require building permits but had to adhere to certain setbacks and standards. The amendment was approved by the Planning Commission at its first public hearing on March 26, with its second hearing May 2 prior to the vote. Jarrard said the Planning Commission has recommended approval with the following changes: that backyard chickens be permitted in A1 (agriculture district)
By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com
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ag-res; and the ordinance be clarified to say that agriculture district lots may elect to comply with backyard chicken regulations, but they must observe the 100-foot setback for any poultry house. Following Jarrard’s presentation, County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said she’s happy the county has cleared up some ambiguities in the ordinance. “I just cannot help but die laughing when (the amended ordinance clarifies) that people don’t have to come in and get a building permit for a chicken coop,” she said. “I mean, I’m thinking, ‘Whoever thought that we would make people (do that)?’” Temporary COs amended In other business, the board voted 4-0 to approve another set of amendments to the UDC, this time related to business’ temporary certificates of occupancy (COs). The changes involve Chapter 7-5.8, Jarrard said in his presentation. The Planning Commission approved the amendments at its March 26 meeting.
See CHICKENS, Page 21
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Recreation Department is continuing the tradition of creating themed summer camps for kids 3-18. This year, a total of 176 summer camps opened for registration April 1, and spots are filling up quickly. The camps are each equipped with a specific theme, from studying insects to playing pickleball. The camp themes encompass four categories: outdoor recreation; dance; gymnastics; and sports. Outdoor recreation Every outdoor recreation camp has its focus, and these specialty camps are divided into subcategories based on age. The “Little Explorer Camps” are for children 4-5 and include an insectthemed Buggin' Out Camp, a birdthemed Winged Wonders Camp, and an Animal Olympics Camp, which includes zip lining, hiking and rock climbing. Kids 6-8 can choose from several “Explorer Camps,” including the Art in Nature Camp, the Geology Rocks Camp and the Wonders in Water Camp. The “Young Adventurer Camps” are for children 9-11. Camps in this category include the Georgia Wanderer Camp, the Aquatic Adventures Camp and the Junior Outdoor Adventure Camp.
See CAMP, Page 21