County Changes Zoning Rules

The Jasper County Commissioners Monday held a public hearing on reducing lot size in C-2 zoning from 1.2 acres to one acre. Only one person spoke at the public hearing, and that was Jason Abercrombie who is interested in opening a car lot on a property that was zoned agricultural but has been used commercially for many years.

There was much discussion on the action with the county attorney weighing in; the planning and zoning director offering input, and the commissioners each expressing their concerns. Planning and zoning recommended denial 3-2.

Bill Nash, who sits on the P&Z board, explained the reasoning for his vote. He said the county has worked hard the past year to increase lot sizes for residential growth and he’s not sure it’s a move in the right direction to lower lot sizes for commercial. He suggested a variance.

The county attorney said that some things, such as lot size, cannot be changed with a variance. He cautioned the commissioners with their actions as they pondered how to achieve what they want.

Mr. Abercrombie began trying to move on to the property last April. He has worked with P&Z and the commissioners to try to get the property where he could achieve his objective. He commented he has 65 cars on his personal property.

Previously, the commissioners tacitly agreed to allow the lot and are just trying how to do that without doing spot zoning. Mary Patrick asked couldn’t that property just be redefined as commercial as that is what it’s been used for. Cathy Benson chimed in her agreement.

The commissioners had previously tabled action to rezone the property to commercial. The commissioners amended the agenda and rezoned the property at Monday’s meeting, as well as voting unanimously to lower the C-2 zoning lot size to one acre.

At the end of the meeting, the commissioners briefly discussed two retirement plan options. (They had met twice previously on this issue, including a work session just a week ago.) Sheriff Donnie Pope spoke during public comments in favor of the better retirement choice. He said he feels that it’s necessary to offer a proper retirement to retain good employees. He also spoke the first time the commissioners discussed retirement. Many county employees were in attendance at the meeting and after the commissioners voted on retirement the employees showed their pleasure with applause. The county will use $1 million of fund balance to initially fund the program.

They also voted to make an amendment allowing employees to make Roth contributions.

Commissioners reviewed a letter from Monticello Mayor Pro-tem Doug Currie asking the county to use impact fees to fund road improvements in Oak Ridge Subdivision. A resident of the subdivision spoke during the citizen comments about the fact that the roads are very bad, and that city residents also pay county taxes.

Commission chairman Bruce Henry questioned City Councilman Tim Womack who was in the audience. Mr Womack deferred to Mr. Currie for the most part, while saying the two entities should work together. Ms. Patrick spoke up and said that they work together fine as long as the county is giving the city something. `Commissioner Don Jernigan asked why the city doesn’t have funds since it no longer pays for law enforcement, after disbanding the police force some years ago, no longer supports the library, doesn’t pay for recreation. Steven Ledford said that Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds can be used for projects like this. He also said the $18,000 apparently suggested in the letter doesn’t seem like it would cover the major repairs they are hearing of.

Chairman Bruce Henry talked about negotiating LOST two years ago, and said the county tried to get more, but the city held tight. Commissioner Asher Gray suggested the city dissolve and let the county handle it all. Or perhaps consolidate. Eventually they voted 3-2 to table any action until they can hear from Mr. Currie and get more info on repairs needed.

Also during citizen comments, several people not previously mentioned spoke.

Victor Columbus spoke against industrial solar farms; David Sheppard said he appreciates the board and he appreciates Don Jernigan who is attending his last meeting as his term ends. He said he really appreciated Don’s help in getting Goolsby Road resurfaced. Susie Hays complained about her road and detailed her interactions with county personnel.

Ms. Benson complained that the pothole patching the county is doing saying either the machine or the operator is not that great. Ms. Patrick also spoke against the proposed solar farm, questioned why she couldn’t get any information in her open records request for the attorney’s bill. Mr. Abercrombie also thanked Commissioner Jernigan.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

• Approved alcohol licenses throughout the county.

• Approved a revised environmental health fee schedule update

• Agreed to fund the Georgia First Responder PTSD insurance…a mandate from last year’s assembly.

• Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program support letter

• Approved the commissioner meeting dates

• Approved employee holiday schedule

• Received the county boards and human resources report

• The commissioners agreed to have no more meetings this year.