City of Newnan Website

The mission of the City of Newnan Planning and Zoning Department is to protect and enhance the quality of life for the current and future residents of Newnan through comprehensive planning and implementation strategies.

Tracy Dunnavant

Planning and Zoning Operations
The Planning and Zoning Department is responsible for a wide range of tasks related to growth and development in the City of Newnan. The department staff consists of a Planning Director and two professional planners, Dana Ethredge and Dean Smith.  The department handles public inquiries, annexation and rezoning requests, subdivision and site plan review, short and long range planning, grants administration, mapping services, composition of land use regulations and assures implementation of the community Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. The department serves as an advisor to the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Resource Commission, City Manager and Community Development Director.

The Planning and Zoning Department is responsible for carrying out general functions and duties related to but not limited to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data and other information related to the development and growth of the City of Newnan and to make such information available to the Planning Commission, City Council, and others including the general public in a timely and useable manner and format. The department serves as the City liaison to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, for all census related activities, and serves in the role of Grant Administrator including making applications for grants as directed by City Council and to administratively assure that the requirements of approved grants are carried out. To administratively process subdivision applications as prescribed in the Subdivision Regulations.

The Planning and Zoning Department is also responsible for planning functions and duties related to but not limited to preparing the text of the Comprehensive Plan and any amendments in a timely manner or to direct or coordinate the work of others who may have this responsibility, to implement the goals, objectives, and policies or other provisions of the Comprehensive Plan and any amendments in a timely manner including coordinating the work of others whose responsibility for specific elements within the Comprehensive plan has been established, to prepare area or specific plans as may be prescribed by the Comprehensive Plan or by authorization by the Planning Commission or City Council in a timely manner or to direct or coordinate the work of others who may have this responsibility, and to provide data and other information to the Planning Commission or City Council to allow such body to make planning recommendations and decisions.

The Planning and Zoning Department is also responsible for zoning functions and duties related to but not limited to administratively approving such applications or requests as designated by the Zoning Ordinance, administratively decides such questions or issues as designated by the Zoning Ordinance, waiving required information for applications as designated by the Zoning Ordinance, providing staff to serve on the Development Review Committee, making interpretations regarding the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance unless otherwise specified, approves conditional uses as prescribed by the conditions required by the Zoning Ordinance, provides recommendations to the City Council, Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals, or any other board, committee, or task force recommended by the Comprehensive Plan or required by zoning and other applicable development regulations, acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council, provides staff support to the Planning Commission, or any other board, committee, or task force recommended by the Comprehensive Plan or required by zoning and other applicable development regulations, and provides, as needed, education and training assistance to the Planning Commission regarding the functions, powers, and duties of the Commission.