Roswell council advances multiple Unified Development Code changes on horses, warehouses and parking

Roswell's City Council on May 11 advanced several text amendments to the Unified Development Code and related code provisions that would change how certain agricultural uses, warehouses and parking are regulated.

Key items approved on first reading included:

- A text amendment to allow noncommercial horse stables as a limited use in RS30/RS87/AG43 districts and to permit them in RS18 parcels of at least 15 acres with added setback and screening requirements; Planning Commission had recommended denial, but council approved first reading.

- A warehouse and distribution text amendment that distinguishes warehouses from data centers and restricts standalone warehouses in certain industrial‑flex (IX) areas to protect employment‑generating land. The amendment would make warehouse and distribution a conditional use in IX and set a typical standalone limit of 25,000 square feet unless tied to manufacturing that creates jobs.

- Amendments to residential parking rules and parking‑lot design to clarify that parking on natural grass and landscaped areas is prohibited and to require hard or approved engineered surfaces for front‑yard parking; Planning Commission suggested clarifying language that staff incorporated.

Council members debated notification procedures, rezoning versus text amendments, and how the changes would affect existing property rights. Several council members argued a text amendment is a fairer, city‑wide approach; others urged more transparent notice or using the rezoning process for individual parcels. All items were advanced on first reading by majority votes recorded at the meeting.