Board of Commissioners, April 7, 2026
Approves Extension of data center moratorium, unanimous
What happened
The Newton County Board of Commissioners denied a conditional use permit (case NTL26-0000001) for a 195-foot T-Mobile monopole cell tower on Highway 81 near Livingston Elementary School, on a unanimous motion to deny despite a staff recommendation of approval; the Planning Commis…
- Jurisdiction
- Newton County, GA
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- April 7, 2026
- Decisions
- 13 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Approved, unanimous
Projects in this meeting (5)
Each is its own project; some span multiple hearingsWithdrawal of
Awaiting final voteNortheast Georgia Regional Commission agreement for
ApprovedExtension of data center moratorium
ApprovedT-Mobile cell tower
DeniedExtension of convenience store moratorium
ApprovedFree sample: decision 1 of 13
UDO Amendment Work Session - Convenience Store Standards
Work session presentation by county attorney Stephanie Johnson on proposed amendments to convenience store development standards in Section 510.200 of the UDO, including a 2-mile separation requirement, 5,000 sq ft size limit covering attached/detached buildings, lighting/screening standards, timely development (substantial construction within one year of land disturbance), and possible additional regulations on fuel pumps (max 12), landscaping, security, hours of operation, and vacancy/abandonment. No vote taken.
The other decisions are listed below by title. The full write-up, verbatim conditions, and the audio at each vote are in Pro.
Meeting Summary
The Newton County Board of Commissioners denied a conditional use permit (case NTL26-0000001) for a 195-foot T-Mobile monopole cell tower on Highway 81 near Livingston Elementary School, on a unanimous motion to deny despite a staff recommendation of approval; the Planning Commis…
Key Decisions (13)
UDO Amendment Work Session - Convenience Store Standards
Resolution appointing solicitors for Newton County Probate Court
Sheriff's Office application for FY25 Byrne JAG Grant
River Ridge Trail culvert replacement contract
Ellington Road 48-inch culvert contract
Agreement with Carl Vinson Institute of Government for SIM event
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission agreement for comprehensive plan update
Budget transfer for two Magistrate Court deputy clerk positions
Withdrawal of Conditional Use Permit CUP26-0000001
Conditional Use Permit for T-Mobile cell tower on Highway 81
Extension of convenience store moratorium
Extension of data center moratorium
Alcohol license second reading - Covington Market LLC
Development Activity (1)
T-Mobile monopole cell tower on Highway 81
Infrastructure
Market Signals (4)
Housing Demand
Resident reported Westfield Village subdivision (behind Kroger on Salem Road)…
Sentiment
Strong community opposition to a cell tower near Livingston Elementary…
Commercial Demand
Newton County is extending both convenience-store and data-center moratoria pending…
Infrastructure
County is updating its comprehensive plan (via Northeast Georgia Regional…
Who Spoke (20)
On the record: a commissioner, a staff member, an attorney, 2 applicant's representatives, a witness, and 4 members of the public.
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