Diverse Holdings and Diversified Holdings: Uncertainty in Georgia’s Procedure for Seeking Judicial Review of Rezoning Decisions

Authors

Laura E. Nelson, University of Georgia School of Law

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

To determine the proper procedure by which landowners
may seek judicial review of adverse decisions on rezoning
applications, Georgia courts must consider the nature of
rezoning decisions. For decades, the courts have held—with
little explanation—that rezoning decisions are legislative acts
subject to de novo review. Then, in the 2017 case Diversified
Holdings, LLP v. City of Suwanee, the Georgia Supreme
Court classified rezoning decisions as adjudicative acts that
may only be reviewed by writ of certiorari. Because the court
did not explicitly overturn the decades of precedent classifying
rezoning decisions as legislative acts, however, the nature of
rezoning decisions—and thus the proper procedure for seeking
judicial review of those decisions—is uncertain. This Note
argues that the Diversified Holdings court properly classified
rezoning decisions as adjudicative acts subject to
discretionary appeal and explores the implications of the
court’s decision.

Recommended Citation

Nelson, Laura E. (2021) "Diverse Holdings and Diversified Holdings: Uncertainty in Georgia’s Procedure for Seeking Judicial Review of Rezoning Decisions," Georgia Law Review: Vol. 55: No. 3, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/glr/vol55/iss3/9