Henry County Government

Henry County’s decision to modernize its zoning and long-range planning framework shows why local governments must periodically update development codes and comprehensive plans to keep pace with growth, infrastructure demands and changing community expectations. By aligning the 2026 Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) with the Airport Area Development Plan, Henry County demonstrates how updated regulations and small area plans can turn growth pressures into opportunities for higher-quality, more intentional community development.

The journey toward modernization began in March 2023 with an update to the County’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan. During that process, it became clear that both the existing Comprehensive Plan and the 2009 Unified Land Development Code no longer reflected the county’s emerging conditions, aspirations or vision for the future. Rather than patch an aging system, the County chose to start fresh. The new Comprehensive Plan, adopted in October 2023, established a clear framework for how Henry County should grow. Soon after, it became evident that the zoning code, one of the county’s most powerful tools, had to rise to meet that vision.

For years, county staff, elected officials and residents navigated land-use decisions within a framework that had matured alongside the community it served. As population and development accelerated, public meetings became where outdated rules met new expectations. Standards that once worked well no longer reflected best practices or evolving priorities. Elected officials were often caught balancing older technical requirements with new community goals. The 2026 ULDC was designed to fix that creating a system that provides clarity, predictability and alignment between policy, regulation and shared vision.

At its core, a zoning code should be a tool that enables clear and consistent decision-making. Over time, Henry County’s 2009 code had become a constraint, limiting flexibility and constraining progress toward community-driven outcomes. The 2026 ULDC represents a complete rebuilding of that tool, a modern, transparent and user-friendly framework that transforms reactive processes into proactive planning.

The Risks of Stale Code

When zoning codes fail to keep up with modern development patterns, counties often experience unintended growth forms more sprawl, more traffic congestion and fewer tools to encourage compact, mixed-use or conservation-oriented design. Outdated use tables, subdivision standards and dimensional regulations naturally funnel projects toward traditional subdivisions or strip-commercial forms, even when the adopted vision calls for walkable centers, multimodal streets and preserved rural landscapes. This mismatch can strain infrastructure, utilities and public services while making rural or environmentally sensitive areas vulnerable to incremental loss.

"Modern comprehensive and small area plans provide a growth framework that zoning brings to life. Henry County’s 2026 ULDC explicitly ties regulatory standards to the County’s Comprehensive Plan while introducing multiple overlay districts (Central District, Highway Corridor, North Ola Kelleytown, and the Airport Area) to guide character, form, and function where growth pressures are greatest."

Older codes frequently lack the environmental safeguards necessary to manage stormwater, protect tree canopies and reduce flood risk. The 2026 ULDC directly addresses these gaps with comprehensive standards for tree preservation, watershed management, floodplain protection and post construction stormwater control. These updates ensure that development decisions protect both private investment and public health, aligning growth management with long-term resilience

The Role of Updated Plans

Modern comprehensive and small area plans provide a growth framework that zoning brings to life. Henry County’s 2026 ULDC explicitly ties regulatory standards to the County’s Comprehensive Plan while introducing multiple overlay districts (Central District, Highway Corridor, North Ola Kelleytown and the Airport Area) to guide character, form and function where growth pressures are greatest. Among these, the Airport Area Development Plan stands out as a strategic blueprint for balancing economic expansion, transportation access and quality design near the EchoPark Speedway and airport

That plan introduces Design Guidelines and a Vision Book defining character areas, architectural principles, open space concepts and multimodal strategies for the airport and speedway area. These detailed frameworks don’t replace the ULDC; they complement it, ensuring rezonings and site designs reflect a consistent community vision. Because all of these tools were adopted together, Henry County now has a fully integrated system connecting land-use regulation, capital planning and infrastructure investment with a unified policy direction.

Modernizing Codes for Growth

What does modernization look like in practice? The 2026 ULDC reorganizes use regulations by district, replaces outdated tables with a consolidated permitted-use matrix and streamlines procedures for rezonings, special uses, variances and development review. This reduces ambiguity and makes decision-making more predictable for applicants, staff and residents alike.

District updates expand housing, office, retail and industrial options to support a more diverse and resilient tax base. New mixed-use districts and overlay zones encourage development that is walkable, economically vibrant and compatible with community standards. The Highway Corridor and Central District overlays incorporate placemaking and connectivity principles that reduce traffic conflicts and strengthen community character. The North Ola Kelleytown Overlay promotes rural preservation through conservation-minded design and buffering strategies that protect open space and agricultural viewsheds. Meanwhile, the Airport Area Overlay applies the Airport Area Development Plan’s character zones to shape high-quality, well-connected and economically productive environments near major transportation infrastructure.

Together, these principles help Henry County transition from reactive, case by case decision-making to proactive place-shaping. The 2026 ULDC and Airport Area Development Plan formalizes that shift ushering in a new era of coordinated, design-driven and environmentally responsible growth management. By modernizing its rules of growth, Henry County has done more than update a code it has built a foundation for a more vibrant, innovative and resilient future.