Gray’s City Council members approved lighting for a dark area on Bill Conn Jr. Parkway and took another step toward a transportation sales tax despite having two missing members at their June meeting.
The most contentious item on the agenda, however, remains undecided because of those missing council members.
Mayor Ed Barbee called the June 3 meeting to order with three council members present. Those members were Mayor Pro Tem James Collins and councilmen David Tufts and Terrell Fulford.
Councilman Terry Favors was not attendance joining the consistently absent Councilman Benny Gray, who is currently a resident in a local nursing facility.
As long as the three councilmen all vote in agreement, city business can move forward. It takes three for a legal vote on any motion, and one dissention negates the vote, even if it is a majority.
The mayor can only vote only to decide a tied vote of council members.
Public hearing
Two zoning issues were first on the June 3 agenda, one being the rehearing of a request by Cedar Creek Development for the rezoning of property located off Allan Green Road for the purpose of building townhomes.
That rehearing brought out about two dozen residents of The Pines subdivision, located across the highway from the proposed development, who objected to the rezoning.
Barbee told the crowd the hearing was an opportunity for people to express opinions, but he asked for each speaker to add new information and not keep making the same argument.
The Pines Homeowners Association President Don Johnson spoke first in the public hearing with a list of objections to the rezoning that focused on anticipated traffic issues with the addition of the 35 townhomes.
He noted the townhomes were in addition to the 16 units that were part of a recent plat approval by council.
Johnson lumped those units with 200 other potential units, not part of the development being considered at the meeting but on the books as previously approved by the city.
His argument was the issues that would be caused with 450 cars added to the daily traffic on Highway 18 East.
The speaker read the decision-making standards that appear on each zoning application to council members, arguing that the proposed request did not meet any of those standards.
Johnson said the singlefamily homes originally planned for the property would meet all the standards and comply with the land use map.
“This request doesn’t meet the criteria. I don’t see how it can be approved,” he said. “If you approve this R3 zoning, you are opening Pandora’s box.”
Pines resident Rebecca Brooks had questions about the city well on the property and the legality of exchanging the land for the well for tap fees.
It was explained that the well on the property was a test well, and the exchange for tap fees was legal.
Brooks also expressed concerns that the property in question was in an area too wet for the construction.
“Did the city make a study of the area? I’m concerned it is on a flood plain,” she said.
City Attorney John Newberry said, while the council had answered some of her questions, the hearing was for comments and not a question and answer period.
Mike Hawthorne asked the difference in a variance and zoning and stated there should not have been a rehearing of the request due to no new information being presented.
“It was purchased as R-1 zoning. There is nothing keeping the developer from seeking the best use of the property,” he said.
Hawthorne stated that people purchase properties with certain expectations. He said if the rezoning is approved, it will cost the current residents their tranquility.
“This is not a circumstance with an extraordinary burden. I ask you not to approve it,” he said.
Matt Davis said he is the vice president of the HOA. He said he stood with his neighbors opposing the rezoning that would add more traffic.
“Please hear the passion of this disagreement,” he said.
Billy Rogers said his latest tax bill was $4,000, and he expected representation. He said the issue being discussed was traffic and safety.
“I don’t think you are considering the people who pay taxes,” he said.
Scotty Bowman asked for the new information that was the reason for the rehearing. Newberry said the issue was discussed at the committee meeting that followed the first hearing. He said there was confusion about the request by some council members, and they agreed to a rehearing.
Bowman asked if council members could just decide to grant a rehearing, and Newberry said they can.
Scott Jackson, owner of Cedar Creek Land and Development, was given the opportunity to speak in favor of the rezoning. He said he has been developing property for 30 years, and rental property is needed.
“Where are folks supposed to go who can’t afford to buy a house? People want to live here, and we are trying to provide housing for people not able to buy a house,” he said.
Jackson went on to explain the townhomes would rent for $1,600 to $1,700 a month.
Audience members started questioning Jackson directly, which was not appropriate and was halted by Newberry.
Item 2
The second zoning item went smoothly. It was a request to allow a private road to serve four lots by Rickey Rushin Jr. The second part of the request was to rezone the Dolly Street property served by the road from R-1 to R-3.
Tufts explained several doublewide mobile homes were already in the area of the private road. That request received no opposition.
Council meeting
The public hearing was closed, and the monthly business meeting resumed. The first item was the rezoning on Allan Green Road. Tufts made the motion to approve the request. Fulford seconded the motion and voted with Tufts for approval.
Collins voted against the motion, which meant the motion failed.
The mayor pro tem made the statement that, when deals are made, they have a long-term aspect.
Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski said if council does nothing for 45 days, the recommendation on the staff report would stand. That recommendation is approval. During a phone call with Pitrowski the following day, however, the zoning officer said that information was not correct. He said the statute states the council has 45 days to make a decision.
Johnson expressed his frustration at council members not being in attendance to vote on the issue. He said residents had shown up at several meetings to state their views.
Tufts made two motions concerning the other zoning request. The first was to approve the private road, and the second to rezone the property on Dolly Street from R-1 to R-3. Both motions were unanimously approved.
New business
Tufts made the motion to approve the public consumption of alcoholic beverages at the June 28 Fridays on Main event. The motion was approved unanimously.
He also made the motion to approve the installation of three LED lights at 100 Bill Conn Jr. Parkway. That motion was approved unanimously.
Collins made the motion to approve the intergovernmental agreement between Jones County and the City of Gray regarding the proposed Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The motion was approved unanimously.
The final agenda item was a resolution to amend the city’s budget for an insurance payment to repair a Gray Police Department patrol vehicle. The motion was approved unanimously.
Comments
Joey Douglas spoke to council members about the need for speed breakers on Brookwood Drive. He said vehicles were traveling too fast on the road and the speed breakers were needed for the safety of children.
Douglas had a petition for the speed breakers signed by a majority of the homeowners in the affected area. He presented the petition to council, which was accepted by City Clerk Cindy Yancey.
The next meeting of the Gray City Council is a meeting of all city committees scheduled June 17.
