Haralson County planning panel approves bylaws, debates draft camper ordinance limits

The Haralson County Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 22 approved its previously discussed bylaws and reviewed attorney revisions to a proposed ordinance that would allow property owners to occupy recreational vehicles while building a residence, commissioners said.

The commission approved the minutes of its prior meeting and then voted to adopt the bylaws “as written,” members said. Commissioners discussed later asking the county attorney to review specific wording about the secretary’s duties and the collection of official signatures and to present suggested edits at the next meeting.

The bulk of the meeting centered on proposed changes to a camper ordinance. Under the draft language discussed, a temporary use permit would allow an applicant to live in a recreational vehicle or travel trailer on a property while constructing a principal residence, provided the RV has permitted septic, power and water. The draft initially tied the temporary permit to a 12-month allowance with possible extensions; commissioners and staff debated whether the period should align with the county’s building-permit term.

Commissioners and staff said building permits in Haralson County are typically valid for up to 18 months and require inspections at roughly six-month intervals. Terry Floyd, Haralson County building inspector, told the panel: “The code says a hundred and 20 days with no, no work being done, then we can void the permit.” He added that if a building permit is voided, the temporary RV occupancy should also end.

Discussion focused on three issues: whether the temporary permit should be issued administratively by zoning staff or require additional approval; whether the temporary permit’s maximum term should be 12, 18 or 24 months; and whether the permit must be accompanied by a valid building permit and current inspections. One commissioner recommended making the temporary permit contingent on a valid building permit and on required inspections being performed.

Commissioners agreed they would ask the county attorney to add clarifying language to the ordinance draft so a temporary RV permit would not exceed the building-permit allowances and would require a current, valid building permit and inspection compliance. The draft already includes a provision that travel trailers and recreational vehicles must not be used for income purposes; staff confirmed that language appears in the current draft under residential districts.

Commissioners also discussed bylaws language assigning secretarial duties. The draft says those duties “shall be performed by the Haralson County zoning staff.” Several members asked that the wording be revised to make clear the secretary’s role is to obtain and collect official signatures and ensure application packages are complete before they appear to the commission. The panel directed the county attorney to review the approved minutes and the bylaws’ wording on official signatures and present recommended revisions at the next meeting.

No formal vote was recorded on the camper ordinance itself; the commission only reviewed the attorney’s revisions and agreed on clarifying edits to be drafted and returned for formal action. The meeting concluded after standard business and an adjournment motion that carried.