JONES COUNTY
Zoning requests took up the majority of the Jones County Board of Commissioners first meeting in October with the proposed construction of a church in a residential neighborhood the topic generating controversy.
The Oct. 3 meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Weidner, and the opening prayer and pledge were led by Ronnie Hinson of Bradley Baptist Church.
Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski presented the first zoning request, which was a conditional use to allow a church on Plantation Road. The property contains approximately six acres.
Ricky Feagin, pastor of the church, spoke for the construction. He said the congregation is currently meeting at Hart’s Chapel, and the intent was to construct a 50’x100’ steel building with a brick façade. The building would include a paved parking lot with 50 spaces.
The opposition to the request were mostly long-time residents of Creekside Subdivision, and their main issue appeared to be that the subdivision was for single-family dwellings. Traffic, safety and lighting from the parking lot were also areas of concern.
The arguments of the opposition differed from those brought up at the Sept. 18 zoning Commission meeting. According to the minutes of that meeting, the concern was mainly about the community already having enough churches.
In response to last week’s comments, Feagin said he respected the concerns.
“There are dangers everywhere. As a church, we want to be a plus to the community,” he said. “I don’t see where Sunday and Wednesday traffic will shut the community down.”
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn, who serves as the Transportation Director of the Jones County School System, asked about the placement of the entrance and exit of the parking lot. She said buses are not allowed to use Plantation Road to pull out on Lite-N-tie Road because of the blind curve.
Commissioner John Wood asked about the building materials.
Chris Peavey, pastor of Christ Community Church on Lite-N-tie Road, asked to speak for the opposition group at the meeting. He said taking out the idea that they were talking about a church, nothing but a single resident dwelling would be allowed to be constructed on the property.
“It would be very dangerous and require a decel lane,” he said. “I want their church to prosper and grow, but it won’t grow there.”
Peavey said there is a place for their congregation, but it was not on that property.
“I ask you to help bypass this place that will hinder them. It’s not a fight about a church; just a neighborhood wanting to continue. I think there are better opportunities for him. This is not the safest or right piece of property.”
Feagin said he appreciated all the comments.
“We love Gray and want to be a blessing. We are not here to compete; we are here to see God’s will done,” the pastor said.
Weidner said he looked at that piece of property 20 years ago, and it has a lot of challenges.
“I don’t want to see a church fail. It needs to grow,” he said.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said he had done his homework.
“This is tough. I remember the ad for property in Creekside Subdivision,” he said.
The commissioner asked how they could deny something that would spread God’s word.
“It’s hard to take the church out of it,” he said.
Kitchens said they had heard from experts and understand what they were talking about. He said they had to consider the effect on surrounding properties and safety.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said he is also a real estate broker.
“You can’t take the church out of it. We wouldn’t consider it otherwise,” he said.
Martin said there is a church down the street, which sets a precedent. He added that, according to the report from planning and zoning, the construction meets all requirements.
The commissioner made a motion to approve the request for the conditional use, but the motion did not receive a second.
Vaughn made a motion to deny the request, and her motion was approved with a vote of 4-1 with Martin opposed.
At the conclusion of the vote, Feagin said, “Glory to God, everybody,” and left the meeting.
More zoning
Item 2 was a request to rezone a property on Skinner Road from Rural Residential to Agricultural, with a conditional use to allow a single-wide mobile home. It was explained that the petitioner has two handicapped children and would like to move to Jones County for them to attend school.
No one spoke in opposition to the rezoning.
Martin made the motion to grant the request, and it was approved unanimously.
Item 3 was a request for a conditional use to allow metal siding on a dwelling located on Monticello Highway. The petitioner explained he wanted to construct a barndominium and stated it would not be strictly metal on the outside. He showed commissioners plans for the construction and stated that he moved to Jones County five years ago.
“I love the schools and the teachers. It’s a great place to have a home,” he said.
There was no opposition to the request, and Kitchens made a motion to approve it. The motion was approved unanimously.
The final zoning item was a request for a variance to allow an additional lot on a private lot, located on Gordon Road. The property consists of 13.6 acres.
The petitioner explained it is family property, and the variance would allow the construction of the home of another family member. No one opposed the variance.
Kitchens made the motion to approve, and the vote was unanimous.
New Business
Dean Nelson with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission presented three resolutions needed to proceed with the process of implementing the county’s Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant.
Nelson said the first resolution was to adopt eligibility and home value limits, including manual requirements. Martin asked if mobile homes were included, and Nelson said they could be.
Vaughn made the motion to adopt the resolution, and the motion was approved unanimously.
The second resolution stated the county would abide by state laws on immigration, sanctuary cities and was a drug-free workplace.
Kitchens made that motion, which was also approved unanimously.
The third resolution was for the adoption of policies and procedures and program design for the CHIP grant. Vaughn made the motion to adopt the resolution, and Kitchens asked what the CHIP grant had produced.
Nelson said the grant was for $400,000 to be used to rehabilitate up to five homes, more if there is money remaining. Weidner called for the vote, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Moss Dangerous Dog issue
During time for citizens comments, Jason Moss came before the commissioners requesting another hearing concerning his three dogs that were designated as dangerous dogs following an April hearing before the Jones County Dangerous Dog Committee.
Moss told board members he had filed a case in Superior Court that was dismissed and asked them to intervene.
Kitchens explained there was nothing the commissioners could do.
At the conclusion of a back and forth between Moss and County Attorney Ashely Brodie about the facts of the case, including that it had cost the county an excess of $10,000 to care for the dogs since March, Moss was asked to leave the building.
