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Adoption of GRTA DRI Policy Revisions (April 25, 2008)
Per O. C. G. A. §50-32-14, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is required to review Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) within the thirteen (13) counties under its jurisdiction. These counties are Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties.
Over the past several months GRTA has undertaken a process to revise its DRI policy documents, the Procedures and Principles for GRTA Development of Regional Impact Review and the GRTA DRI Review Package Technical Guidelines. During this time period, many entities have been consulted concerning the revisions, including among others, local and state government agencies, regional development centers, and several non-profit organizations. The intent of the policy revision is to better align GRTA’s DRI review more closely with the authority’s mission, to clarify the goals of the program and thereby introduce a more predictable review outcome for DRI projects.
On April 9, 2008, the GRTA Board adopted the recommended revisions to the Procedures and Principles for GRTA Development of Regional Impact Review and the GRTA DRI Review Package Technical Guidelines. As a result of the adoption, beginning on May 9, 2008 all DRI projects initiated through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) website as a Form 1: Initial DRI Information submittal shall be subject to the new rules. DRI projects which were initiated prior to May 9, 2008 shall be grandfathered under the old rules.
The final documents may be found on the GRTA website at:
Procedures and Principles for GRTA Development of Regional Impact Review
http://www.grta.org/dri/PDF_files/FINAL_Procedures_and_Principles_04_09_2008.pdf
Summary of changes to Procedures and Principles for GRTA Development of Regional Impact Review
http://www.grta.org/dri/PDF_files/PnP_Summary_03-24-8.pdf
GRTA DRI Review Package Technical Guidelines
http://www.grta.org/dri/PDF_files/FINAL_Technical_Guidelines_04_09_2008.pdf
Summary of changes to GRTA DRI Review Package Technical Guidelines
http://www.grta.org/dri/PDF_files/Tech_Guide_Summary_03_17_08.pdf
GRTA DRI Review Checklist Users’ Guide
http://www.grta.org/dri/PDF_files/Users_Guide_05_09_08.pdf
ARC / GRTA Combined DRI Review Checklist*†
http://www.grta.org/dri/Checklist_04_24_08.xlsx
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
245 Peachtree Center Ave, NE
Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30303
ph: (404) 463-3000
fax: (404) 463-3060
www.grta.org
* At this time, ARC has not begun using the Combined DRI Review Checklist in their review process. However, all review submittals are required to include a completed checklist per items applicable to GRTA.
† The checklist is a working draft document. It is subject to future change upon adoption by the ARC.
Developments
of Regional Impact (DRI's) are large-scale developments likely
to have effects outside of the local government jurisdiction in
which they are located. The Georgia Planning Act of 1989
authorizes the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to
establish procedures for intergovernmental review of these
large-scale projects. These procedures are designed to
improve communication between affected governments and to
provide a means of revealing and assessing potential impacts of
large-scale developments before conflicts relating to them
arise.
GRTA's
legislation also requires that it review DRI's within its
jurisdiction. The
purpose of GRTA's review is to approve or disapprove the use of
state and federal funds to create transportation services and
access that may be required as a result of the DRI.
The goals of the review are protecting and efficiently
allocating limited state and federal resources, promoting
compliance with regional transportation plans and air quality
standards, and furthering GRTA's mission and goals. The
current policy for GRTA review of DRI's became effective in
January of 2002 and is available upon request, or can be
downloaded from this website. GRTA's review operates
concurrently with the review performed by the Regional
Development Centers (RDC) required by the DCA.
The
material that follows is designed to provide applicants, local
governments and others with basic information about the review
process. GRTA plans to regularly add material to this
website that will assist interested parties in completing the process.
Developments
subject to GRTA review:
A
proposed development triggers the DRI review process when a
request for local government action is initiated (e.g. a zoning
or permit application). DCA determines whether a
development is large enough to be classified as a DRI.
More information about DCA regulations is available on the DCA
website. Click
here to view the DRI tiers and thresholds table.
GRTA reviews DRI's for developments that fall within counties
and municipalities covering thirteen counties in the Atlanta
metropolitan area. Please click here for a map of the
thirteen counties.
Adopted
policy and other basic information:
GRTA's review is designed to run concurrently with that of the
RDC's. GRTA's focus is on
transportation and air quality impacts, while the RDC's examine
a broader range of impacts. Please click
here for a summary of the stages of the GRTA review.
The current review policy can be downloaded (PDF format) by
clicking here.
A
"Technical Analysis" must be performed by
the applicant in order to understand and evaluate the DRI with
respect to the criteria
in the policy. The requirements of the Technical Analysis
can be downloaded (PDF Format) by clicking
here.
Click
here for more information about beginning the DRI process.
Click
here for
more information about Technical Information and Tools for the GRTA DRI
review.
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