The City of Vidalia continues to revise its proposed Overlay District Framework Ordinance after widespread concern and even some misinformation about the proposal spreading through the Sweet Onion City.

City Manager Josh Beck said, “This is an overlay district proposal, and what that means is the city can address these issues within that certain area and won’t affect other areas of the city as a whole,” he said.

Beck said that while some people are referring to the proposed ordinance change as being a “Homeowners’ Association,” or HOA, that is not what it is, nor has it ever been the intent of the city government.

“Absolutely not,” he declared. “The city doesn’t want to get into paint colors, shrubberies and we’re certainly not going to collect HOA dues.”

Beck said Thursday that the concerns of the citizens are something he and the Council aren’t taking lightly, and with that in mind, revisions to the proposal were shared Thursday afternoon. The new proposed ordinance can be viewed on the city’s website at www.vidaliaga.gov.

Now that the changes have been released for the public’s review, a meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board that had some individuals urging for a large attendance has been changed so that officials can continue to gather information from concerned citizens. A new public hearing will be held on August 18 with the proposal now to be presented before Planning and Zoning on September 1. Both meetings will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Chambers and open to the public.