Storage spaces now have to be in I-1 or I-2 within city limits when new businesses seek permits

An effort to make sure that Cedartown’s main thoroughfares aren’t rows of storage buildings in the future on what land remains open ended with a zoning change approved by the Cedartown City Commission on Monday evening.

The July 10 vote by the City Commission lifted a moratorium on new mini warehouse construction within the borders of Cedartown, but requires that any new ones be limited to either the I-1 or I-2 industrial zones.

They were previously allowed in the C-2 zones.

The vote was unanimous and comes as a result of what city administration suggested by putting mini warehouses as a conditional use within the first two industrial zoning categories. A public hearing gave people the opportunity to comment for or against the change, but no one spoke out in favor or found the change to be negative.

Commission Chair Jessica Payton said it was one thing that made her happy to see completed.

“C-2 are our corridors into the city, and they are very visible areas,” she said. “When you are coming into or leaving a city, the last thing you want to see are rows and rows of mini warehouses. Putting them in as a conditional use within an industrial area, I-1 and I-2, makes so much sense rather than having the potential for new mini warehouses pop up in our corridors where we want to have businesses and residences.”

WATCH: City Commission meeting in full for subscribers

She added she felt it was a design standard ordinance along with the zoning change.

Cedartown has multiple storage units around town, mostly located in commercial zones. There are already a number located along East Avenue, for instance, taking up what could have otherwise been used for restaurants or retail locations, potentially even much-needed housing.

The hopes of the city are to avoid a proliferation of the businesses clustering around main thoroughfares and detract from other opportunities for what land is left available along East or West Avenue heading into town, Highway 27 North around the shopping area anchored by Walmart and Home Depot, and on West Avenue heading toward Alabama.

Future mini warehouses will now be pushed toward either the Northside Industrial Park off the Highway 27 bypass or the Westside Industrial Park around the Sixth Street/Prior Station Road corridors.

Commissioners had previously approved a moratorium on mini warehouse construction back in May during their regular session.