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).
DRI Reviews
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.
Search DRI Database
Click the button below to search a database of DRI reviews.
DRI Pre-Application Conferences
Conferences 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 404-463-3307.
DRI Checklist
Effective July 1, 2009, DCA required all Regional Commissions (RCs) to develop a checklist to be used in the review and evaluation of DRIs based on a checklist template. In July of 2010, ARC adopted and began using the new DRI checklist. This checklist is meant to serve as a guide in reviewing DRIs, but other relevant issues may affect the DRI review and therefore affect the review finding.
To be eligible for a finding of “In the best interest of the Region, and therefore of the State,” a development must receive a score of 85% or more for the Regional Consistency Assessment (RCA) section, and an overall checklist score of 60% or more. Each section of the checklist is weighted differently based on that section’s relevance to Envision6 policies as well as other adopted ARC plans and policies. The RCA section is weighted 50%, the Local Impacts Assessment (LCA) section is weighted 30%, and the Quality Development Assessment (QDA) section is weighted 20%. The checklist is below. Please contact the ARC review coordinator if you have any questions
For additional information, please contact us at 404.463.3100