AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY

Consider a request to amend the Unified Development Code, of the City of Griffin, Article 7, Table 7.3, (Permitted Uses) Zoning Districts, to allow Consumer Fireworks Retail Sales Facilities or Store and Consumer Fireworks Retail Sales Stand, meeting the minimum standards of NFPA 1124 for new and existing buildings as a permitted use in the Planned Commercial District. Toussaint Kirk, Director of Planning & Development will address.

As of April 26, 2016, Governor Deal signed a new law relating to the sale of consumer fireworks. The new law changes several key definitions in the law and will affect the provisions the City added to the UDC last year for both permanent stores and temporary fireworks stands. It also adds other land uses to the places around which fireworks may not be ignited and reduces the legal hours during which fireworks may be discharged. It restores some local control by allowing the City to enact, by ordinance, extended times (9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.) on most days on which the ignition of fireworks is legal, and/or requiring a special use permit, to be issued by the Fire Department, to ignite fireworks at certain locations between the extended hours, such as in public parks and recreation areas. 

Further, the law makes it a state misdemeanor to discharge or ignite fireworks in a place or at a time other than permitted by general law. It is also a state misdemeanor for a person under age to possess consumer fireworks or to transport or store fireworks under specified conditions, and a new state misdemeanor for a person under the influence to ignite fireworks.

Planning & Zoning Board and staff recommend approval.

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