GORDON COUNTY
PLANNING and ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2022
The Gordon County Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Gordon County Administration Building for the purpose of hearing variance and zoning change requests.
Members present were: Jerry Lovelace, Tommy Hibberts, and Sabrina Poole
Vice-Chairman Jerry Lovelace called the meeting to order and advised all present of the sign-up sheets available for those who wish to address the Planning Commission on any of the zoning or variance change applications.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Sabrina Poole to approve the minutes of the previous meeting of November 14, 2022. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The minutes were approved as written.
VARIANCE APPLICATION #V22-17 & REZONING APPLICATION #Z22-22, RON VAIL
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read variance application #V22-17 and rezoning application #Z22-22, Ron Vail for a 19.97 acre tract located on Pleasant Hill Extension, Ranger. Mr. Vail represented the requests explaining that he seeks a variance from the 250 foot buffer requirement for the south and east property line adjoining the Gordon County Landfill property to zero feet and requests a rezoning change from A-1 to I-2 for a landfill renewable natural gas processing plant. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
On variance application #V22-17, Sabrina Poole made the motion to approve the application and grant the reduction of the buffer requirements to zero on the south and east property line adjoining the Gordon County Landfill. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The variance was granted. The thirty (30) day appeal period was explained.
On rezoning application #Z22-22, Tommy Hibberts made the motion to approve the application from A-1 to I-2, with the conditions that all code requirements be met with the Fire Department and must provide water mains for adequate water protection for the City of Calhoun and all applicable state and local regulations shall be complied with, including but not limited to Gordon County appearance standards for structures in Industrial zoning districts, landscaping and sign requirements. Sabrina Poole seconded the motion. All voted aye. The recommendation for approval was sent to the Board of Commissioners.
REZONING APPLICATIONS #Z22-24 & #Z22-25, PAUL SVIHLA
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read rezoning applications #Z22-24 and #Z22-25, Paul Svihla, requesting to rezone a 4.23 acre tract from A-1 to RA-1 and a .99 acre tract from A-1 to R-6 located at 549 Cornelison Road, Rydal. Mr. Svihla represented the request explaining that they had purchased this property with the intent of renovating an existing house but in the process there was a fire that destroyed the house and now to go through the loan process they need to bring into compliance with the ULDC. The 4.23 acres is the tract the new home will be sitting on and the .99 acres will be for the existing mobile home for his aging parents to live in. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
On rezoning application #Z22-24, Sabrina Poole made the motion to approve the application from A-1 to RA-1 to allow construction of a new home on the 4.23 acre tract. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The recommendation for approval was sent to the Board of Commissioners.
On rezoning application #Z22-25, Tommy Hibberts made the motion to approve the application from A-1 to R-6 for the existing mobile home on a .99 acre tract. Sabrina Poole seconded the motion. All voted aye. The recommendation for approval was sent to the Board of Commissioners.
REZONING APPLICATIONS #Z22-26, THUY TRUONG (owner) JACOB WILLIAMS (legal rep.)
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read rezoning application #Z22-26, Thuy Truong (owner) Jacob Williams (legal representative), requesting to rezone a 35 acre tract located at 835 Goat Road, Resaca from A-1 to Conditional Use. Sam Truong and Mr. Williams, with Georgia Poultry, represented the request explaining that there is currently 4 – 66’x600’ chicken houses and they would like to build 3 more 66’x600’ chicken houses on the property to improve cash flow for the family business. A letter was read from James Darrell Conaway, an adjoining property owner, who stated he didn’t have a problem with the addition of more chicken houses. Area and adjoining property owners, Doug Jones, Carrie Wilson, Jeff Worley, Eddie Smith, Jeffrey Kirkland, and Meg Reidy spoke in opposition to the addition of more chicken houses in the area. The concerns mentioned were air quality, flies, run-off, health hazards, property values, noise, etc. Also noted that there was currently 34 chicken houses in a 1 square mile that housed 3 million birds and this effects hundreds of homes and families way of living. Sam Troung stated that he lives on farm and it doesn’t have smell and that they keep it clean. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
Sabrina Poole made the motion to deny the rezoning application identified as #Z22-26 from A-1 to Conditional Use to construct 3 additional chicken houses. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The recommendation for denial was sent to the Board of Commissioners.
REZONING APPLICATION #Z22-28, JOHN RICHARDSON
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read rezoning application #Z22-28, John Richardson, requesting to rezone 2.039 acres located at 8363 Fairmount Hwy., Fairmount from A-1 to RA-1. Mr. Richardson represented the request explaining that he would like to subdivide this property from another tract to construct a home. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
Tommy Hibberts made the motion to approve the rezoning application identified as #Z22-28 from A-1 to RA-1. Sabrina Poole seconded the motion. All voted aye. The recommendation for approval was sent to the Board of Commissioners.
VARIANCE APPLICATION #V22-18, W. HARRISON UNLIMITED LLC – WILL HARRISON
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read variance application #V22-18, W. Harrison Unlimited LLC – Will Harrison requesting a variance on a .47 acre tract located on Lot 5 Black Oaks Park Subdivision, Rips Road. Mr. Harrison represented the request explaining that he requests a variance of 15 feet from R-O-W because there is a creek on the property creating the hardship. Adjusting the setback distance would allow for a house to be built on the property. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
Tommy Hibberts made the motion to approve the variance application identified as #V22-18 and grant the variance of 15 feet from R-O-W. Sabrina Poole seconded the motion. All voted aye. The variance was granted. The thirty (30) day appeal period was explained.
VARIANCE APPLICATION #V22-19, JOSHUA WOODS
Vice-Chairman Lovelace read variance application #V22-19, Joshua Woods requesting a variance on a .78 acre tract located at 246 Williams Way, S.W. Mr. Woods represented the request explaining that he requests a variance to reduce side setback of 9 feet and rear setback of 6 feet. This would put the structure 1 foot off the side property line and 6 feet off the back property line. He would like to build a detached garage which will have a mother-in-law apartment above. All adjoining property owners had been notified.
Sabrina Poole made the motion to approve the variance application identified as #V22-19 and grant the variance as requested. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The variance was granted. The thirty (30) day appeal period was explained.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
There being no additional business, Sabrina Poole made the motion to adjourn. Tommy Hibberts seconded the motion. All voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
