The Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission (LCPC) has called for a 60-day public comment period to provide for public review and comment on the proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for all of Liberty County, including the municipalities of Allenhurst, Flemington, Gumbranch, Hinesville, Midway, Riceboro and Walthourville.

 The proposed UDO is intended to update and replace the existing zoning and subdivision ordinances for each of the aforementioned jurisdictions with a common “unified” development ordinance. The proposed UDO and the associated zoning maps can be viewed on the LCPC’s website at www.thelcpc.org.

The proposed UDO is the product of a three-year- long process to update and unify the land development ordinances of Liberty County.

The process has involved meeting with dozens of stakeholders and several workshops of the Planning Commission. The purpose of the 60-day review period is to allow the public ample opportunity to review and ask questions about the proposed UDO ahead of the Planning Commission’s planned Aug. 16 public hearing to consider a recommenda tion of the prop osed UDO for adoption to the governing authorities of Liberty County and its municipalities.

Many of the zoning and subdivision requirements with Liberty County and its municipalities have been in place since the 1970s. Although the vast majority of procedures for zoning actions and development review will remain unchanged, the specific performance standards have been updated to changes in the way Liberty County residents live and do business since zoning was first established in the ‘70s. Moreover, the proposed UDO will enact the same zoning and subdivision standards throughout Liberty County, regardless of which jurisdiction one lives in. Finally, the allowed uses of most properties will not change, even if the name of the particular zoning district changes.

For more information about the proposed UDO, contact Jeff Ricketson at 912.408.2030orjricketson@thelcpc.org, or visit www. thelcpc.org.