Under the Georgia Planning Act, development projects that are likely to have an impact beyond the host local government’s jurisdiction are subject to review as Developments of Regional Impact (DRI).
This review is intended to improve communication among governments on large-scale and certain types of developments, and to provide a means of identifying and assessing potential impacts before conflicts relating to them arise. The DCA established thresholds by size and type of development for determining whether a development qualifies as a DRI.
To maintain its Qualified Local Government (QLG) status, a local government must submit every potential DRI it is considering to ARC for review and comment. ARC, with input from neighboring local governments and other agencies, reviews such projects and makes a finding whether or not the DRI is in the best interest of the region, and therefore, of the state. After the review is completed, the local government retains authority to make the final decision on whether or not to approve the development.
Pre-application conferences for DRIs are held Monday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m. at ARC offices the week after the required Department of Community Affairs (DCA) form has been submitted. . For more information, visit the DCA Developments of Regional Impact page or contact the ARC Review Coordinator by email or phone at 404-463-3309.
Effective July 1, 2009, DCA is requiring all Regional Commissions (RCs) to develop a checklist to be used in the review and evaluation of DRIs based on a checklist template. ARC, in partnership with GRTA, developed a joint checklist prior to this requirement from DCA. In 2010, ARC and GRTA will begin using the DCA approved checklist for all DRI reviews. Below is a copy of the current ARC/GRTA Checklist that will be used in the interim.
Also below is the DRI Guidebook containing explanations and definitions that will assist local governments, developers and other agencies in understanding the checklist and how it is used.
DRI Checklist and Guidebook
DRI Resources
For additional information, please contact us at 404.463.3100