§ 104. Purposes.

A.

The Zoning Ordinance of Screven County, Georgia, seeks to encourage development of desirable land use patterns within Screven County in accordance with the Screven County Comprehensive Plan. The promotion of sound land use patterns is intended to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of certain conditions that can threaten the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Screven County. This ordinance should serve the following purposes:

1.

Reduce the occurrence of hazardous traffic patterns and general congestion.

2.

Secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers.

3.

Ensure that adequate light and air are provided.

4.

Prevent the overcrowding of land, urban sprawl, and undue concentration of population.

5.

Facilitate the adequate provision of public utilities, to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements and facilities.

6.

Promote adequate living conditions and sustained suitability of neighborhoods.

7.

Protect property against blight and depreciation.

8.

Promote the proper location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, the size of yards, courts, and the use of other open spaces, the use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, agriculture, forestry, conservation, sanitation, protection against floods, public activities, and other purposes.

9.

Encourage the most appropriate use of land, buildings, and structures for other purposes.

B.

Additional benefits to the public interest that can accrue from the development of sound land use patterns are as follows:

1.

Efficient development and use of community utility networks.

2.

Economy in governmental expenditures.

3.

A higher level of convenience, order, prosperity, and aesthetics.