Proposal to Limit Ground Floor Residences in Downtown Toccoa Commercial Properties Moves Forward

An ordinance that would place restrictions on ground floor residences in the historic downtown district in commercial properties in Toccoa moves one step closer to adoption.

Last Thursday, the Toccoa Planning Commission took up consideration of the proposed ordinance amendment.

Toccoa Planning and Community Development Director Connie Tabor said that the planning commission reviewed that proposal and gave its blessing for it to move forward.

“The historic district would be utilized for retail and service businesses on the ground floors in the commercial storefronts and then the first 60 feet of the building would be dedicated to that commercial purpose,” said Tabor.

Approval by the Toccoa Planning Commission was unanimous and it now goes to the city commission.

The Toccoa City Commission is expected to take up the proposed ordinance amendment in April.

Tabor said the proposed ordinance amendment would allow residential space in the rear of commercial properties on the ground floor in the historic district, but would mandate that the storefront along the street be used for a commercial or service-oriented business.

Residential spaces would also be permitted on upper floors of commercial properties or in the basements, if that is an option.

The proposed ordinance amendment came to the Planning Commission from the city’s Downtown Development Authority, which voted to recommend it earlier this month.

The DDA took it up after discussing the possibility of such an ordinance amendment with Toccoa City Commissioners at a joint planning meeting between the two boards earlier this year.