TIFTON — The Tifton City Council voted to implement a 45-day moratorium on residential construction within the city limits at a special called meeting at noon on Jan. 25.

The moratorium would not apply to any building permits that have already been issued as of Jan. 25.

According to city attorney Rob Wilmot, concerns were raised at the city council retreat on Jan. 22 about inconsistencies in the Land Development Code.

Lot sizes and set back requirements and other issues need to be looked at, he said.

“The road frontage width appears to be way off,” Wilmot said, highlighting one of the biggest issues.

R20, R14 and R12 zoning lots all have inconsistencies that need to be addressed, said Wilmot.

City manager Pete Pyrzenski agreed, saying there were “glaring issues” with some of the numbers.

All changes will have to go through the planning and zoning committee, which meets on Feb. 12.

“The moratorium is to make sure everything stays status quo until planning and zoning can consider potential changes,” Wilmot said.

Pyrzenski said there is no opportune time to deal with changes like this, but that “we need to do it and we need to do it fast.”

He added that there was no intent to delay growth but “we have to do smart things for the community.”

Mayor Julie Smith added that the Land Development Code was always supposed to be a “living breathing document” that was designed to allow for alterations as communities grow and change.

“It is not the desire of anybody here to have a negative impact on any of our builders or contractors,” Smith said. “It is important that we respect and maintain the existing nature and character of our existing neighborhoods so that any new construction that occurs within those neighborhoods is appropriate and blends seamlessly.”

Smith, Vice Mayor Wes Ehlers, council member Johnny Terrell and council member Frank Sayles voted to approve the moratorium. Council member Jack Folk was not in attendance.

Follow Eve Guevara on Twitter @EveGuevaraTTG.