5770 Fields Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506

Planned Commercial Farm District

The land within the county designated as planned commercial farm district (PCFD) shall be represented by large district areas of at least 35 acres or more that are devoted to intensive agricultural production in the areas of food crops, fiber crops, animal feed, poultry, livestock and commercial timber production. Individual farms within the district area cannot be smaller than five acres. Areas within this zone are not intended to be used for small-scale farming, gardening, small poultry operation or idle pasture land that are more appropriately located in the agricultural-residential or other zoning districts. The land should be in use for good faith farming or agricultural uses worthy of protection and preservation.; The use of areas designated as PCFD may result in odors, dust, noise or other effects that may not be compatible with single-lot residential development. Specific setback and buffer requirements designed for PCFDs shall apply just as they do within commercial and industrial districts to minimize the adverse effects of the farm uses.; In order for a parcel to be considered for rezoning to PCFD, the parcel must have qualified for and be under House Bill 230, the Preferential Agricultural Assessment.; If, after a tract is rezoned to PCFD, the land is not actively used for intensive commercial agricultural purposes, the county may, at its discretion, initiate procedures for a zoning review and possible rezoning of the property. An automatic review of the zoning will occur at the end of the first year after the date of the original zoning to PCFD.