Boards & Commissions

Boards & Commissions Overview

Various boards and commissions assist in the function of the City government.

Please note: Every board and commission meeting is a possible quorum of Mayor and City Council.

Nancy Saviano Long

City Clerk

City Clerk's Office

City Hall

(770) 594-6283

Email Nancy Saviano Long

Listing of Boards & Commissions

• Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
• Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals (CBAA)
• Design Review Board (DRB)
• Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
• Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
• Planning Commission (PC)
• Recreation Commission (RECC)
• Roswell Development Authority (RDA)
• Roswell Public Facilities Authority (RPFA)

Appointments, Elections, & Membership

Article 2.6, Boards and Commissions – Code of Ordinances

• Appointments are made by nomination of the Mayor with approval of City Council.
• Protocol for Appointment: The city clerk shall advise the mayor and council of impending appointments or vacancies at least 30 days in advance. A slate of nominations shall be compiled based on recommendations from the mayor, council, and the board or commission affected. The mayor shall request closure, in accordance with the Open Meetings Law, prior to nomination.
  All members shall be residents of the city. However, if a serving member moves outside the city limits, such member may serve until his/her successor has been duly appointed, or for a maximum period of 6 months whichever is shorter.
• Each board and commission has seven members.
• Each body elects a chairman by majority vote.
• Chairmen serve 1 year or until a successor is elected.
• Members serve three-year terms for the following Boards/Commissions: Board of Zoning Appeals, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Commission, and the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals. A member of any of these boards or commissions cannot serve more than 3 full consecutive terms on any board or commission (per Ordinance adopted February 1, 2010) but may, at the election of Mayor and Council, be appointed to serve on another board or commission.
• The other Boards and Commissions’ terms are as follows:
  • Recreation Commission – Five year terms (State Code) – A member of the recreation commission shall not serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms after adoption of the ordinance (March 1, 2010), but may, at the election of mayor and council, be appointed to serve on another board or commission.
  • Downtown Development Authority – Staggered terms – After initial term, term is 4 years – No Term Limits.
  • Roswell Development Authority – Staggered terms – After initial term, term is 4 years – No Term Limits.
• A position on a board or commission currently being occupied by a holdover member shall either be filled by reappointment, with such reappointment being deemed an initial term for purposes of term limits, be filled by a newly appointed member, or be deemed vacant 6 months (does not pertain to the Downtown Development Authority or the Roswell Development Authority.
• Unexcused Absences – The minimum attendance requirement shall be 2/3 of the regularly scheduled meetings. Failure to adhere to minimum attendance requirements during any twelve-month period shall cause such member’s position to be declared vacant.
• Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner that original appointments are made.
  Members shall serve without pay. Members may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in obtaining required training. Such required training shall be designated and approved by the mayor and council.
• ¹Partial Term: If members are currently serving an unexpired term, said term shall not be considered an initial term for purposes of these term limits.
• ²Term Extension: A member whose term expires may serve until his/her successor has been duly appointed or for a maximum period of 6 months whichever is shorter (Does not pertain to the Downtown Development Authority or the Roswell Development Authority).

Read the Complete Ordinance

Boards & Commissions Volunteer Application

If you are interested in serving on one of our boards or commissions, please fill out an application. If there are no vacancies (please see the term expiration dates for each board/commission below), the City will keep your application on file until we have an opening.

Boards & Commissions Volunteer Application

All applicants shall be residents of the city (Code of Ordinances Section 2.6.6).

Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)

The Board of Zoning Appeals is authorized to approve variances. A variance is the process by which an applicant can, when meeting specific hardship criteria, request a deviation from certain provisions of the Roswell Unified Development Code (UDC). The Board of Zoning Appeals can only approve variances related to the zoning requirements of the UDC, and can only hear and decide on requests relating to Articles 1-10 and Section 12.7.

• Meeting Schedule

  • Second Tuesday of each month
  • 7 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

Construction Board of Adjustment & Appeals (CBAA)

This Board hears the appeals of decisions and interpretations of the chief building inspector and consider variances of the technical code. They meet on an as-needed basis.

Design Review Board (DRB)

The Roswell Design Review Board works to assure that development plans comply with community design and development policies established by the City of Roswell in its Comprehensive Plan and applicable design guidelines. The DRB is responsible for Initial Design Review and Final Design Review for all development within its jurisdiction with the exception of detached, fee simple, and single-family residences.

• Meeting Schedule

  • First Tuesday of each month
  • 6:30 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

Roswell Code of Ordinances Article 2.6 – Boards and Commissions – Section 2.6.2 Composition

The Design Review Board membership shall include, unless otherwise approved by Mayor and Council, individuals with the following qualifications in addition to any listed in this article:

1. At least 1 member shall be an architect with a current state registration.
2. At least 1 member shall be a landscape architect with current registration.
3. At least 1 member shall be licensed commercial building contractor.

Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

Roswell’s DDA was formed to improve the economy of Roswell by coordinating public/private programs that promote the redevelopment and growth of Roswell’s central business district. The DDA works to assure the long-term economic stability of downtown Roswell by maintaining the small town character of the district and supporting values that assure Roswell is a great place to live, work, play, invest and do business.

Visit the Roswell Downtown Development Authority Website

• Meeting Schedule

  • Second Thursday of each month
  • 3 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Room 220

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

The members are nominated by the Council posts and assigned to those posts so their successors will be nominated upon the expiration of those terms by that post member.

Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)

The Roswell Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was established with the mission to protect and preserve the historical and archaeological resources of the community. The HPC is responsible for the design review of projects proposed for the 640-acre Roswell Historic District. The Commission is comprised of Roswell citizen volunteers who are appointed to carry out the review process. A majority of the members are required to have demonstrated special interest, experience, or education in history or architecture.

Property owners and occupants within the Historic District desiring to make external material changes to their properties are required to obtain approval from the HPC. Such changes include any construction of new buildings, any change in the exterior architectural appearance of existing buildings, demolition or moving of buildings, or any change in external environmental features.

• Meeting Schedule

  • Second Wednesday of each month
  • 6:00 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

• Applications & Resources

  • Historic Preservation Commission Application
  • Historic Properties Map
  • National Register District Map
  • LCI Study: Roswell Town Center/Atlanta Street Corridor Study (April 2008)

Planning Commission (PC)

The Roswell Planning Commission was established to survey and study the existing conditions and probable future developments of the area in order to plan for physical, social, and economic growth. The Planning Commission provides input into the Comprehensive Plan, recommends changes to the Unified Development Code (UDC), and considers subdivision of land and other land use regulations. The Commission reviews and makes recommendations for rezoning, concurrent variances, and conditional use permits prior to the hearing by the City Council.

The Planning Commission is comprised of Roswell citizen volunteers who are appointed by the City Council to deal with land and zoning issues.

• Meeting Schedule

  • Third Tuesday of each month
  • 7:00 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

• Applications & Resources

  • Zoning Application
  • Plat Application
  • Unified Development Code (UDC)

Recreation Commission (RECC)

The Roswell Recreation and Parks Department continues to strive to meet the leisure needs of the citizens of Roswell by providing quality comprehensive recreational opportunities and quality comprehensive parks and facilities.

• Meeting Schedule

  • First Thursday of each month
  • 7:00 p.m.
  • Adult Recreation Center

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

Roswell Development Authority (RDA)

The purpose of the Roswell Development Authority is to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities within the City of Roswell and has all the powers established by O.C.G.A. §36-62-1 et.esq.

The Roswell Development Authority is comprised of Roswell residents who are appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

Members will serve initial 2-year or 4-year terms. After the initial terms, all members shall serve 4-year terms.

Visit the Roswell Development Authority Website

• Meeting Schedule

  • Third Tuesday of each month
  • 3:30 p.m.
  • Roswell City Hall, Room 220

• Archives

  • Agendas, Briefs & Minutes

Roswell Public Facilities Authority (RPFA)

The Roswell Public Facilities Authority (RPFA) is a state-authorized public corporation established to support the City of Roswell by financing public facilities and infrastructure projects.

Mayor and Council are appointed to serve until such time as successors in office are elected and succeed as members of the Authority.

Archives

• Agendas, Briefs & Minutes