Norcross City Council Recap: Revised Noise Control Ordinance Passes

The big topic of the evening may have been the filming of a TV series in downtown Norcross, which was discussed in a special called meeting Monday, but the Norcross City Council still covered a number of items on the agenda for its regular monthly meeting later that night.

Here are some of the highlights:

-The change in rezoning conditions for building homes at 152 Thrasher Street was tabled 2-1 by the council. (Councilman Keith Shewbert and Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Hixson voted in favor of it, while Councilman Craig Newton voted against tabling. Councilmen David McLeroy and Charlie Riehm were not present at the meeting.) The original concept to build six homes was passed in December, but because the plan was revised to better fit the concerns of emergency vehicles on the street, the council needs to approve the change. Shewbert wanted to see the new landscape plan for the proposed homes before making a decision on approving the revision.

-A revision to the city's Noise Control Ordinance was passed 3-0. Decibels and time frames for different types of noise were added to the ordinance, and Norcross Police now will carry decibel markers to measure sound in noise complaint incidents. One condition was changed during the approval, though: The original ordinance states that power tools and lawn mowers were exempt from the ordinance between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends and holidays, but a few residents voiced that 10 a.m. was too late in the day. The ordinance was changed so that the use of those tools would be exempt from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday instead of only weekdays.

-The EB-5 project was tabled to the April policy work session. EB-5 is a Visa program where an overseas investor can receive a temporary to going-to-be permanent Visa to live in the U.S. For each investment, the business must either make 10 jobs or save 10 jobs. It's being proposed that a regional center would be built in Norcross to represent the project to investors.

-Mayor Bucky Johnson noted in the meeting that Gwinnett County has made a formal offer to purchase the city's water and wastewater system. The council will discuss the offer at the next policy work session, which will be March 18, and also at a town hall meeting later this month. The council may vote on the offer in the April city council meeting.

-The revision to the oversized sign ordinance and the update on the city's official zoning map were passed 3-0. The council also voted in favor of Johnson signing the Tile Ad Valorem Title Intergovernmental Agreement.

-The Norcross City Council passed a the creation of a citizen board that will make recommendations for 2014 SPLOST funds. The board is consisted of six citizens and three city employees.

-The board appointments for positions on the Downtown Development Authority and the Planning and Zoning Board were tabled for further discussion at the March policy work session.

See also:

• Production Company to Film TV Pilot in Norcross

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