Rezoning Request Draws Crowd

Jasper County residents in the vicinity of Hwy. 11 south and Perimeter Road may not have to travel any farther than their own neighborhood for gas and a sandwich. That is, following the recommendation of the Jasper County Planning and Zoning Board that .99 acres on the southwest corner of that intersection be rezoned from agricultural to neighborhood commercial.

The rezoning request was one of three applications that was heard by the four-member board, previously composed of five members before former chairman Ray Gardner resigned last month. Although all three requests were approved, this particular application was met with the most discord from area residents.

Almost a dozen Hwy. 11/Perimeter Road residents voiced concerns about the purpose for the rezoning effort proposed by applicants Nannette and Robert Manning, who said they live in the vicinity. Area residents had issue with the increased traffic, noise and other disturbances an isolated gas station could bring to their neighborhood.
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Mrs. Manning presented the rezoning plans which included an information packet with a plat of the land, traffic information and preliminary sketches of the convenience store. She noted that her request was in line with the future land use map and had discussed changing the zoning with the previous property owner prior to purchasing the lot.

Mrs. Manning said that the Department of Transportation had been informed of the request and that the plans included a privacy fence with the adjacent residential lot. Aware that several of the neighbors had concerns, she was willing to listen to them.

“We have every intention of protecting that area because we live there too,” referring to herself and her husband. “This is our home and we don’t plan on leaving. We are willing to listen to those with concerns.”

Listen is what the board and applicants did for more than half an hour as resident-after-resident reiterated the current dangers of the intersection and how they would only increase with the traffic volume a convenience store could bring.

Roxie Cargile, a 23-year area resident, expressed concerns about the traffic, water and noise problems that could stem from the proposal. Gary Jordan, whose family operates the trailer park located across from the lot on Perimeter Road, said that he didn’t want the noise.

Willa Dale Boone, owner of the land across from the lot on Hwy. 11, asked the applicants to consider putting up another type establishment. She suggested a church or something to help the neighborhood.

Sonya and Wayne Banks, the neighbors that live on the adjacent lot, vehemently opposed the request.
“We lived in Covington next to a convenience store so we already know what that is like. That’s one of the reasons we moved here. We strongly oppose this,” said Mr. Banks.

Johnna Pope inquired as to how the request will affect the Perimeter Road extension and urged the board to drive by and view the lot. She said that she knew first-hand of the traffic dangers largely due to being the wife of a deputy sheriff who is often called to work accidents in that area.

Mrs. Manning’s rebuttal to the traffic concern consisted of researching the 2003 incident reports filed in that area. She said that an inquiry at the 911 center provided only one reported traffic incident.

The board had few questions but did inquire about the parking and buffer zones.

They also solicited the professional opinion of Melba Bridges, health and sanitation director, regarding possible health department regulations. Mrs. Bridges said that she had seen the preliminary plans and that thus far the plans conform.

The board also heard from a new county resident John Floyd, who supported the request. He said that if the plans meet the regulations of the county it should be permitted and that the reasons presented by the opposition were not just or legitimate.

“I’m not making this racial but change is coming for African-Americans. Jasper County needs to get with it,” he said implying that race could be a factor with this particular application.

Bill Martin said that except for the size of the proposed lot the request meets the county’s regulations. Thus he made the motion to approve the request for recommendation to the county commission, who will ultimately make the final decision.

James Wright made the second; John Moore opposed; and chairman Bill Halliday did not vote. The request passed 2-1 but not without Peggy Billerman, planning and zoning director, clarifying to participants that the zoning board makes recommendation which are approved or denied by the commission.

Philip Brown’s request to rezone three acres in the 1200 block of Funderburg Drive from agricultural to neighborhood commercial for the purpose of a funeral home was unanimously approved. Mr. Wright excused himself from the vote.

Aside from the applicant the board heard from light-hearted supporters and opposers. Gene Mathis, Monticello zoning director, said that the city did not oppose the rezoning, while two Funderburg Drive residents said that the request was not favorable to them.

“The phone will be ringing off the hook with people wanting to know who died,” said Pat Vinson.
The board also approved Mary Sander’s special exception request to allow a singlewide trailer as an accessory use under a medical hardship provision at 315 Pitts Chapel Road.

Zoning members denied a text amendment that would increase the minimum square footage of homes from 1200 to 1500 in the R215 district, 1000 to 1200 in the agricultural district, and 1100 to 1200 square feet in rural residential district.

Mrs. Bridges, the sole speaker on the text amendment, made an impassioned speech to the board against it. She said that the changes would not conform to the needs, economics in particular, of the elderly and young considering home ownership in the county.

“Consider that the average income in Jasper County would not qualify for a home loan on projects with the proposed square footage changes,” Mrs. Bridges said.

She suggested that rather than increase square footage why not extend the county’s nuisance and junk ordinance and strictly enforce it.
All recommendations will be reviewed by the commissioners during their regular meeting Monday, Nov. 3 beginning at 9 a.m. in the commission meeting room located on the first floor of the Courthouse.

In other business, Mrs. Billerman provided the board members with handouts from the Georgia Code Chapter List which details “conflict of interest” issues as they may or may not relate to board members.

She also went on record saying that commissioner Russell Bennett, who owns a grading company, does not have a conflict of interest with county projects, according to the guidelines.

Also, the planning and zoning director informed the board that Mr. Gardner’s resignation had been denied by the commissioners who requested that the former chairman reconsider joining the board. No action was taken as of last week’s zoning meeting but it will appear on Monday’s county commission agenda.

Before adjourning the meeting, the November 27 meeting was rescheduled for November 20.