1 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:22,720 Good evening. Today is April the 18th, 2020. I'm sorry, August. Yeah, August 2 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:25,840 the 18th, 2026. Um, it is 7 o'clock. We're going to go 3 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,840 ahead and call this meeting to order tonight. 4 00:00:32,239 --> 00:00:40,719 I'm going to ask um if Commissioner uh Cooper would lead us in our prayer and 5 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:45,000 Commissioner Long would lead us in our pledge of allegiance to the flag. 6 00:00:53,039 --> 00:01:00,480 Let's bow head. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather 7 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:06,000 here today in service to our community. Grant us wisdom in our in our 8 00:01:02,719 --> 00:01:11,520 discussion, clarity in our decision, and compassion in our heart. May we lead 9 00:01:08,479 --> 00:01:16,080 with integrity, work with unity, and always seek the greater good for those 10 00:01:13,439 --> 00:01:20,479 we represent. Bless each and everyone present, and may our effort today 11 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:23,280 reflect the fairness, justice, and respect of all. 12 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:26,000 » Amen. >> Amen. 13 00:01:32,799 --> 00:01:42,560 To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it 14 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:47,240 stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 15 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:55,759 » Thank you guys for that. Guys, I seek a motion that we adopt 16 00:01:53,119 --> 00:01:59,280 agenda. Please move. >> There's been motion by Commissioner 17 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Mason and second by Commissioner Edwards. Any discussion? 18 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:05,960 Um, Commissioner Henderson. 19 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:17,840 Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh what what I would like to ask the um county attorney 20 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:24,080 in lie of of you know and I'm I'm not a person like keep up stuff but in lie of 21 00:02:20,239 --> 00:02:30,440 what we have read in the papers should our chairman chairman Bane chair 22 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,440 this meeting 23 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:38,480 » um my understanding is that the county is proceeding 24 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:45,200 um with the understanding that chairman 25 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:50,560 Baines has been re reinstated and so um I'm not going to give a public legal 26 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:53,120 opinion on that but I that's my understanding of how the county has been 27 00:02:52,080 --> 00:03:00,720 choosing to proceed. >> Yes. And I just want to be sure that uh 28 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:08,319 for uh the uh citizen of New County that uh we are following legal advice 29 00:03:04,239 --> 00:03:13,120 of uh I guess J Roy and Davis. Thank you. Any more discussion? All in 30 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:18,000 favor? It passes 5. 31 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:22,959 Next is public comments. We allow our citizens to make comments about agenda 32 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:25,680 topics. Agenda agenda topics only. You have three minutes to do so. You may 33 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:30,319 come at this time. Please state your name, your address for the record, 34 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:34,200 please. Agenda topics only. Agenda topics only. 35 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:43,280 » Thank you. Um, there's nothing to report today in the chairman's report. Um, Mr. 36 00:03:41,599 --> 00:03:46,239 Brown, there's nothing in your report. Do you? 37 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,319 » Good evening, Mr. Chair, board of commissioners. I do not have anything to 38 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:53,280 report. >> Thank you, sir. Next is um the consent 39 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:59,680 agenda. I seek a motion that we approve the consent agenda, please. 40 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:05,599 » It's been motioned by Commissioner um Edwards and second by Commissioner 41 00:04:01,439 --> 00:04:12,120 Cooper. Any discussion? All in favor? 42 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,120 It passes. 5. 43 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:22,079 Next is um new business consideration of Cornish Creek Water Treatment Plant 44 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:28,320 Upgrade. Mr. Brown. >> Good evening again. This is the uh third 45 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:34,600 agreement for the com upgrade to the Cornish Creek Water Treatment Facility 46 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,600 of 159,31,45.20. 47 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:44,240 As you may remember, the board already approved package number one, package 48 00:04:41,919 --> 00:04:48,800 number two. Package number three is a combination of package one, two, and 49 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:53,759 three for the total of the amount I just read. um uh to seeking for approval from 50 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:57,720 the board. >> I seek a motion, please. 51 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:04,720 » Is there a second? >> It's been motioned by um Commissioner 52 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:10,479 Edwards and second by Commissioner Cooper. Um any discussion? 53 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:14,120 All in favor? It passes. 50. 54 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:25,639 Next is item number nine, consideration of environmental resource u analysis. 55 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,639 Mr. Cooper, 56 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:33,919 » I mean Mr. Mr. Brown. >> Yeah, sorry. So, this is an annual 57 00:05:30,479 --> 00:05:38,320 contract uh for testing that the um the Cornish Creek treatment plant does do 58 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:43,360 from outside third party testing to make sure that all of the contaminants are 59 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:50,639 appropriately tested for and pass all uh all EPD and EPA regulations. 60 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:55,120 » Thank you, sir. I seek a motion, please. >> Is there a second? 61 00:05:52,880 --> 00:06:00,160 » It's been motioned by Commissioner Edwards and second by Commissioner Long. 62 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:06,280 Any discussion? All in favor? 63 00:06:02,639 --> 00:06:06,280 It passes. 5. 64 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:13,520 Um, want to go down? Go down. 65 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:18,560 I'm going to ask that we go into a brief recess for a few moments and um and 66 00:06:17,039 --> 00:06:19,840 we'll come back. Can I get a motion, please? 67 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:25,360 » So move. >> Is there a second? It's been motioned by 68 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:32,520 Commissioner uh Mason and second by Commissioner uh Cooper that we go into a 69 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:32,520 brief recess. Any discussion? 70 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:41,759 » I'm sorry. >> The purpose is we can't start zoning 71 00:06:37,199 --> 00:06:49,400 till 7:30. Uh good. Okay. Any more discussion? All in favor? We standing in 72 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,400 re 73 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:44,399 Guys, I seek a motion that we move back into our regular meeting. Please, 74 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:48,159 is there a second? >> It's been a motion by Commissioner 75 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:52,399 Edwards and second by Commissioner Long that we move back into our regular 76 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:57,840 scheduled meeting. Uh, any discussion? All in favor? 77 00:30:54,720 --> 00:31:02,480 Thank you. Passes 5. Going to ask Mr. Apple White, if you would please come on 78 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:07,679 up. It's actually 7:30 now. We're going to move directly into our zoning. 79 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:12,679 Miss Apple White. Thank you, chairman. Good evening, chairman, members of the 80 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,679 board of commissioners. 81 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:18,679 Our first petitions is actually old business. 82 00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:22,679 It is our EZ26-0000004. 83 00:31:23,919 --> 00:31:31,840 It is for a retail space located at highway 81. Tax ID 0016030. 84 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:38,399 And I should mention that this was tabled um back in June for 60 days to be 85 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:43,919 heard again tonight. Parcel site is 3.63 acres. Flume is commercial. The existing 86 00:31:41,039 --> 00:31:47,919 zoning is R2 single family residential. The proposed zoning is general 87 00:31:45,679 --> 00:31:53,039 commercial. It is in the emerging suburban character area which the flume 88 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:57,919 would support. Watershed is South River. This is district two, commissioner 89 00:31:54,960 --> 00:32:03,039 district two. The owner is Steve Astrin and our petitioner is Haley Todd from 90 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:08,799 PC. And applicants intent is to reszone to general commercial in order to 91 00:32:04,559 --> 00:32:12,640 develop a multi-tenant retail building. And just briefly go over the history 92 00:32:10,159 --> 00:32:18,399 because we just uh we presented this at the last meeting, but on May 8th, there 93 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:22,600 was a community meeting that uh was actually rescheduled to 5:29. 94 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:32,159 The planning commission held the meeting on 5:26 and they tabled 95 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:38,480 the petition and it was then held again at a special called meeting on 6:15. 96 00:32:35,679 --> 00:32:43,600 On 529 2026 the community meeting was held for this proposal and the applicant 97 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:46,880 proposed the following. The proposal they they gave the or they showed the 98 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:51,039 proposal or the site plan. Um they spoke about how long the project will bring 99 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:55,440 local community how it would bring local community uses. There was a possibility 100 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:59,919 of a single tenant. Um the county regulations required 72 parking spaces 101 00:32:57,519 --> 00:33:03,600 which they've met. There's ADA screening and sidewalk requirements which will be 102 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:07,360 met. Storm water pond will mitigate flooding in the adjacent neighborhood. 103 00:33:05,519 --> 00:33:12,159 Storm water regulations have improved over the years. G dot advised that an 104 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:15,760 entrance or an exit wouldn't be located on Highway 81. will be on Cowan Road 105 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,399 instead which will also have a deceleration lane and the distance in 106 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:23,679 the building and the impervious surface to nearby property length. They 107 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:27,600 also addressed that to make sure it was appropriate. 108 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:30,640 Transitional buffer will only encroach on the driveway but it would be 109 00:33:29,039 --> 00:33:35,200 appropriate for separation from the residents next to it. The trip report 110 00:33:33,679 --> 00:33:40,799 concluded that the proposed development will bring less than 100 vehicles onto 111 00:33:37,039 --> 00:33:45,360 Cowan Road daily and proposal this this particular proposal doesn't 112 00:33:42,559 --> 00:33:50,880 meet the threshold criteria for us to for staff to require a traffic study but 113 00:33:48,159 --> 00:33:54,320 the board does have that discretion. No proposed end use for the building at 114 00:33:52,559 --> 00:33:58,960 this time. So at the same community meeting the 115 00:33:55,919 --> 00:34:02,159 citizens also expressed their concerns. So there were concerns about the types 116 00:34:00,399 --> 00:34:05,919 of uses, example, gas station or restaurant that could potentially be 117 00:34:03,679 --> 00:34:09,599 developed at a later time. There was a possibility of putting conditions in 118 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:12,720 place to prevent certain uses. If any of the land is left vacant, there was 119 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:17,520 concern that that could also be developed at a later time. The potential 120 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:21,440 relation to the previous cell tower project that was also proposed on that 121 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:25,520 parcel. There are also concerns of traffic and congestion that the cow road 122 00:34:23,359 --> 00:34:30,159 currently experiences and the dangerous curve it has. There's a small distance 123 00:34:27,919 --> 00:34:33,679 from the entrance on Cowan Ridge Road or the Cow Ridge subdivision to the 124 00:34:31,679 --> 00:34:37,200 developer proposed entrance on Cowan Road. There are also concerns of 125 00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:40,639 drainage flooding issues that currently affect the adjacent residential 126 00:34:38,879 --> 00:34:44,480 properties such as the Livingston Elementary School underground pipe for 127 00:34:42,240 --> 00:34:49,040 their retention pond. There's potential drainage issues that the proposal could 128 00:34:46,159 --> 00:34:53,599 cause um as well. Uh and these are again some of the concerns that nearby 129 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:56,800 residents expressed. Uh they also expressed a possible need for a 130 00:34:54,720 --> 00:35:01,280 hydraology test and traffic study and they needed to know that um who the 131 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:05,839 potential developer would be. On 6:15 the planning commission recommended 132 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:09,119 denial of the petition by a vote of 50. Citizens also spoke in opposition at the 133 00:35:07,839 --> 00:35:12,880 planning commission meeting and they reiterated some of the same concerns 134 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:16,400 above. Additional concerns also included safety 135 00:35:15,119 --> 00:35:21,599 and the facade of the building that faces Highway 81. On 616, the board of 136 00:35:19,599 --> 00:35:25,440 commissioners tabled this petition for 60 days and this is where we are today. 137 00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:28,174 So these are just pictures from the community meeting. [clears throat] 138 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:38,800 Just a brief site plan analysis. So it's 3.36 acres um surrounding there includes 139 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:43,359 a single family subdivisions, the Linton Elementary School, Linton Academy, 140 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:48,400 childc care learning center. The side plan shows a 10,800 foot commercial 141 00:35:46,079 --> 00:35:52,640 building. Along the southeastern portion of the property, there are 72 proposed 142 00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:55,680 parking spaces. The septic area is to the west of the parking lot and the 143 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:59,839 storm water facility will be to the west of the building. The septic area, we do 144 00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:04,480 have concerns of its location and proximity to the pvious um the 145 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:09,680 impervious surfaces such as the parking lot and any impact that it could have on 146 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:13,359 the septic drain field. one existing [clears throat] curb cut on 147 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:18,480 Highway 81, but um that's not going to be used. G do DOT has already decided 148 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:22,960 that they'll have to use a Cowin road as their ingress and egress. 149 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:26,240 So the preliminary approval per the county's transportation department was 150 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:30,720 there as long as it lines up with the adjacent street entrance at Cowen Ridge 151 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:35,359 Road and incorporates a deceleration lanes. Those were the conditions that 152 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:41,200 transportation had. There's a 75 foot transitional buffer 153 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:45,920 along the back side of the property. The only thing in the within the buffer 154 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:51,040 is the entrance um into Cowan Road, but there is going to be an opaque fence 155 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:55,520 which will also be part of the buffer to shield the residences in the adjacent 156 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:58,800 subdivision. The front of the building is proposed to 157 00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:01,839 face inward. However, we have communicated with this developer that 158 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:07,359 the building actually needs to be oriented towards the road which would be 159 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:12,160 consistent with all the other commercial developments that are within proximity 160 00:37:09,599 --> 00:37:17,280 of this proposed development. The side pan me exceeds um the minimum 161 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:22,240 building setbacks as per development regulations in the UDO and any signage 162 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:26,240 must also meet the requirements of division 525. 163 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:30,960 And um of course this is the parcel we're looking at here and this is the 164 00:37:28,079 --> 00:37:34,960 proposed layout which would probably need to be revised at some point. So 165 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:38,640 storm water facility, the septic area is on this side here. We've got the parking 166 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:44,160 and then the building over here, the transitional buffer and of course the 167 00:37:41,119 --> 00:37:50,720 fence and we have our subdivisions on this side here and across the road. 168 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:55,599 So they have uh submitted proposed elevations. 169 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:59,520 It would be primarily of brick and these are some of the uses that they're 170 00:37:56,960 --> 00:38:05,800 proposing that will go there and I do have these uses included in your packet 171 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,800 for review. 172 00:38:07,839 --> 00:38:13,200 So in conclusion, the applicant is proposing to reszone to general 173 00:38:11,119 --> 00:38:17,359 commercial for a neighborhood retail store with multiple tenants. The 174 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:21,280 proposed use is along a state highway which will serve travelers and residents 175 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:24,800 surrounding in the surrounding area. The resort will also be consistent with 176 00:38:23,119 --> 00:38:30,000 policies of the comp plan since the flume is already commercial and supports 177 00:38:27,359 --> 00:38:33,359 the general commercial district. However, there are some challenges that 178 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:37,920 still need to be worked out on the lot such as the septic location, building 179 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:42,720 orientation and improvements to cow road such as a del lane as well as improved 180 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:46,160 traffic flow. It is also important to note that many citizens expressed 181 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:51,440 concerns about the project during a community meeting on 529 2026, mainly in 182 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:55,040 relation to the potential uses that could go on the property. They also had 183 00:38:53,680 --> 00:39:00,960 concerns about the drainage or flooding issues and traffic congestion that Cowan 184 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:04,480 Road currently experiences. Staff also received several opposition 185 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:09,359 letters and one petition from the adjacent Cowan Road subdivision, Coen 186 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:13,920 Ridge. Um, and the concerns stated included potential crime. There also 187 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:17,359 concerns about finding another property that is already zoned commercial for the 188 00:39:15,599 --> 00:39:22,640 proposed use. The concerns about the traffic, noise, trash, litter, lighting, 189 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:26,400 loitering, and extended hours of operation. There were concerns about 190 00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:32,640 keeping the character of the residential areas. There were school safety concerns 191 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:38,079 and adverse neighborhood impacts. Um, the so the applicant is seeking this 192 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:42,240 reszoning. This is not a byite use which is why they're seeking to reszone it to 193 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:45,280 the appropriate zoning category. So should the petition be approved by the 194 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:50,160 board of commissioners, it should be approved general commercial conditional 195 00:39:47,839 --> 00:39:54,560 and subject to the owner's agreement to the following enumerated conditions. 196 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:59,119 Where these conditions conflict with the stipulations and offerings contained in 197 00:39:56,960 --> 00:40:03,280 the letter of intent, these conditions shall supersede unless specifically 198 00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:08,000 stipulated by the board of commissioners. So one to the owners 199 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:11,040 agreement is the following. A all plans and plat submitted must meet the 200 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:14,640 requirements of the ordinance or regulations and be approved by the 201 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:18,640 department of development services, public works, Newton County Fire 202 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:23,200 Services, Environmental Health, the water authority, Georgia soil and water 203 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:27,359 conservation and the G dot as applicable. B. Prior to any new uses, 204 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:31,040 all permits shall be obtained as applicable. 205 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:35,280 C. You must obtain and maintain a business license as needed. D. No 206 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:39,119 outside storage allowed on the property. No merchandise allowed to be displayed 207 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:42,480 outside of the building. E. The entrance and exit on Cowan Road is allowed to be 208 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:48,079 within the transitional buffer as long as an 8-ft opaque fence is installed 209 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:51,839 along the west property boundary line. F. The building shall be oriented to 210 00:40:49,839 --> 00:40:55,520 face highway 81 and have appropriate fenistration. 211 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:59,760 G. There shall be landscaping strips along Highway 81 and Cowan Road. And H. 212 00:40:57,839 --> 00:41:06,880 The following uses shall not be allowed. tattoo parlor, vape shop, pawn shop, gas 213 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:12,880 station or convenience store with pumps. This is a survey that was submitted 214 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:18,319 by the applicant. Uh we have these are street view 215 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:22,200 pictures from Highway 81 and Cowan Road. Our zoning is R2. 216 00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:30,560 The flume is commercial. There's a future land use map. 217 00:41:27,599 --> 00:41:37,359 Watershed is South River. This is in commissioner district 2 218 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:41,359 cart areas as we said emerging suburban and that is the end of staff's 219 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:46,240 presentation and chairman applicant does have a presentation of his own 220 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:52,560 there any questions for staff at this moment 221 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:55,359 » thank you uh um missawite so I'm told there's already been a public hearing on 222 00:41:54,319 --> 00:41:57,920 this is that correct >> yes it would have been held on back in 223 00:41:57,200 --> 00:42:05,480 June >> okay so I'm going to turn it over to um 224 00:42:00,319 --> 00:42:05,480 Commissioner Mason. What shall we hear? 225 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:18,319 » Well, if y'all said they already did. Yeah. So, 226 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:24,640 » well, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, from my understanding, this particular 227 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:28,720 site is still uh in litigation. So, really, I cannot make a decision at 228 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:34,920 this particular time. So, I'm going to move that we table uh rec26-0000004 229 00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:42,400 uh for 30 days. >> Could we do 60 to allow for to 230 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:44,880 readvertise? >> Yes, we can. 231 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:49,760 » Thank you. >> Is there a second? 232 00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:53,520 » It's been it's been motioned by Commissioner Mason that we table this 233 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:57,839 for 60 days and second by Commissioner Edwards. Any discussion? 234 00:42:55,839 --> 00:43:02,160 All in favor? Thank you. Stand table for 60 days. 50. 235 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:06,240 Mr. Apple White. >> Thank you, chairman. 236 00:43:05,314 --> 00:43:11,760 [clears throat] >> Our next item under old business. It's 237 00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:17,040 resolution R061626D for um consideration. It was tabled on 238 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:20,800 June 16th and then tabled on July 21st. It is a resolution of the Newton County 239 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:25,920 Board of Commissioners terminating an existing moratorum on the acceptance of 240 00:43:23,839 --> 00:43:30,720 applications, requests or submissions that propose the development of 241 00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:36,560 convenience stores. Um we are still working on this and as well as the UDO 242 00:43:33,359 --> 00:43:42,160 staff would propose to actually go ahead and extend this to um term to the same 243 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:46,200 time as the UDO will which would be like November 4th. 244 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:54,640 Thank you. Um, and so it's my understanding again, we already had a 245 00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:58,319 public hearing. So, commissioners, I seek a motion, please. 246 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:02,160 » Is there a second? >> Is there a second? 247 00:43:59,839 --> 00:44:07,760 » It's been motioned by Commissioner Long and second by Commissioner um Cooper. Is 248 00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:12,000 there any discussion? All in favor? 249 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:17,839 Thank you. Stand table. 250 00:44:14,240 --> 00:44:22,200 Extend extended. I'm sorry, Miss Apple White. 251 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:22,200 » Thank you, chairman. 252 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:29,119 » So, our next item today is under new business. This is an appeal case. Um, 253 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:34,520 it's an appeal case for the Sherrod Farm subdivision. 254 00:44:30,720 --> 00:44:34,520 The case number is A26-00003. 255 00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:40,560 The name of the appeal applicant is Mr. Philip Johnson. He's the attorney 256 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:44,760 representing the client. The original case number is the PP26-000000003 257 00:44:45,119 --> 00:44:52,160 which was the preliminary plat and the original applicant was also Mr. Philip 258 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:57,359 Johnson. Property owner is Dina Pace Holdings. The address of the property 259 00:44:55,200 --> 00:45:03,280 is off of Dina Pace Road and Brownbridge Road. The tax ID parcels are 43-4A, 260 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:07,680 43-35, 43-35B, 261 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:12,400 and 43-4D. proposed use is a single family 262 00:45:09,839 --> 00:45:16,560 residential subdivision. The existing zonings are R2 single 263 00:45:14,319 --> 00:45:20,000 family R2 which is single family residential district as well and they're 264 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:24,079 also applying the open space conservation overlay. Watershed is 265 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:28,240 yellow river character areas are the live work corridors established suburban 266 00:45:26,240 --> 00:45:35,440 core and conservation and recreation area density is 776 units per acre and 267 00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:41,760 parcel is 399.3 acres. They're proposing 310 lots and 268 00:45:39,119 --> 00:45:49,040 the proposed lot size is approximately 17,500 square feet. This is located in 269 00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:52,319 commission district 4. So the request is the appeal to the 270 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:56,480 planning commission's decision to deny the preliminary plat for the Sherrod 271 00:45:54,160 --> 00:46:00,640 Farms residential subdivision. The original request was the applicant was 272 00:45:58,720 --> 00:46:05,280 presenting for approval the plinary plat for the Shroud Farm subdivision located 273 00:46:02,880 --> 00:46:12,400 along Dina Pace Road and Brownbridge Road and of course 399.3 acres and 310 274 00:46:09,599 --> 00:46:16,720 single family lots and a brief history on the June 23rd planning commission 275 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:23,920 denied this plat um this subdivision the preliminary plat 276 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:28,960 as mentioned the character areas live work corided established suburban C and 277 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:33,280 of course a conservation recreation area. 278 00:46:31,440 --> 00:46:38,560 Just a brief background, the single family development um that they're 279 00:46:35,839 --> 00:46:42,720 proposing is located south of the access road. There are separate two separate 280 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:47,599 entrances off of Dina Pace Road to the east as well as an entrance located off 281 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:52,640 of Brownbridge Road to the southeast. So the project consists of four parcels, 282 00:46:49,760 --> 00:46:56,880 zone R2. um they all fall within those three character areas we mentioned 283 00:46:54,480 --> 00:47:02,000 previously. When this first came in um there was a 284 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:07,040 development of regional impact. It initially came in as an annexation with 285 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:10,880 um from the city of Porterdale that was um dismissed by the city dismissed that 286 00:47:09,680 --> 00:47:15,680 or they dropped it. They didn't move forward with it but the regional the 287 00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:19,359 development of regional impact study had already been conducted. So just want to 288 00:47:17,359 --> 00:47:25,599 give you a little bit of background on that. Um 289 00:47:22,240 --> 00:47:32,880 at the time it was for 649 single family units and the feedback from the DRRI is 290 00:47:30,319 --> 00:47:38,319 that the live work corridor area um the vision for that character area 291 00:47:35,920 --> 00:47:42,319 it emphasizes morely more so mixeduse development for employment opportunities 292 00:47:40,079 --> 00:47:45,760 and multif family housing. The project however is just single family use. So 293 00:47:44,079 --> 00:47:49,760 they didn't think that the proposal was consistent with that particular 294 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:53,680 character area. However, residential uses in single family residential zones 295 00:47:52,079 --> 00:47:57,440 are listed in the comp plan is appropriate for it and there are several 296 00:47:56,000 --> 00:48:03,119 commercial facilities near the site along the access road which borders I20 297 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:07,040 and intersects with Dina Pace Road. So in their consideration 298 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:10,560 and of course in the context of the nearby parcels the proposal would 299 00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:14,160 somewhat contribute to mixeduse intention by creating homes near 300 00:48:12,640 --> 00:48:17,599 existing employment and retail opportunities. The requirement for 301 00:48:16,160 --> 00:48:21,440 sidewalks due to the availability of sewer infrastructure indicates a 302 00:48:19,040 --> 00:48:26,640 walkable development which is attributed to the character area. 303 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:29,640 A traffic study was also conducted in 2023. 304 00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:36,000 Uh they met the threshold for that due to the number of new single family 305 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:42,559 proposed homes. Even at 310 they will still meet the threshold for a traffic 306 00:48:38,640 --> 00:48:47,680 study. Um back then it showed that the generated trip or the estimates 307 00:48:45,359 --> 00:48:53,119 which at the time was for the 649 homes, but they showed a total of 5,639 308 00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:58,240 total two-way trips over a 24-h hour period. An updated traffic study hasn't 309 00:48:56,000 --> 00:49:03,200 been submitted at this time to reflect the new units as well as to reflect the 310 00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:07,359 other subdivisions within proximity that have come online since then. And these 311 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:11,520 are the orders on Brownidge Road as well as on Cowan Road, which they'll all 312 00:49:09,119 --> 00:49:15,920 share at Cowan Road Archery to get on to I20. and we'll go into that a little 313 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:21,400 later. So this just shows the trip generation um as provided. 314 00:49:22,079 --> 00:49:28,240 So the preliminary plan analysis um the planning commission was a role to review 315 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:33,599 for compliance with our UDO section 1415-030 316 00:49:30,400 --> 00:49:38,079 as well as division 430 for the open space. The Sherrod Farms submission 317 00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:45,119 consists of 310 single family residential lots on 399 acres on water 318 00:49:41,680 --> 00:49:51,200 and sewer. Minimum lot size um an open space conservation overlay brought it 319 00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:54,800 down to 17,500 ft which is about4 acres and the average lot size they're 320 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:59,839 proposing is 20,000 square feet which is about 46 acres. So more than a quarter 321 00:49:57,920 --> 00:50:03,440 of the lots are larger in size than the average lot size. The smallest one is 322 00:50:01,760 --> 00:50:09,680 17,572 square ft and the largest is 47,720 323 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:13,119 ft. So development as has three entrances, two on Dina Pace, one on 324 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:17,760 Brownbridge Road in the deceleration lane. Um there is concern for traffic 325 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:21,440 congestion at Brownbridge Road entrance since it is located within a quarter 326 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:26,559 mile of two multif family residential developments to the east um namely 327 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:31,040 Benton Woods with 162 town homes, Leafstone Apartments with 232 units. 328 00:50:29,280 --> 00:50:36,960 They're also in close proximity about a mile to the other highdensity 329 00:50:32,800 --> 00:50:41,040 developments on Crowell Road um which is will also exit onto Interstate 20. So 330 00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:47,200 these would include Harold Dobs or the Dobs Landing 253 units, the town of the 331 00:50:43,839 --> 00:50:52,240 Yellow River 96 units, Point Grand 216 units, and of course the existing Silver 332 00:50:49,200 --> 00:50:57,440 Ridge at 211 units and Oakwood Manor at 322 units. So the proposed project 333 00:50:55,040 --> 00:51:01,760 offers multiple parks, male kiosks with parking, mulch to walking trail along 334 00:50:59,280 --> 00:51:07,280 the river, um an existing pond, sidewalks, storm water detention ponds, 335 00:51:03,839 --> 00:51:11,280 utilities and landscape areas. So other concerns as noted in the DRI include 336 00:51:09,040 --> 00:51:15,839 potential impact of the density of the Yellow River on the Yellow River as well 337 00:51:14,079 --> 00:51:19,760 as the sensitive flood plane and wetland areas. So even though the developer 338 00:51:17,520 --> 00:51:23,760 reduced the number of homes from 649 to 310 units, the proposed subdivision is 339 00:51:22,480 --> 00:51:27,920 still in close proximity to the repairarian buffers that protect the 340 00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:31,280 Yellow River Wershed. Comments from staff. So the following 341 00:51:29,599 --> 00:51:35,280 county departments and external agencies have reviewed and approved the 342 00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:39,359 preliminary plant ex um for the plinary plan for Sherrod Farms. So Newton County 343 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:43,599 Fire Department, they've reviewed for the fire code and recommended approval. 344 00:51:41,839 --> 00:51:49,119 our transportation department reviewed but they had um conditions as well. So 345 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:52,800 additional improvements are required on Dinapace road and they also had to 346 00:51:50,880 --> 00:51:56,880 coordinate with G dot for any additional comments on the Dinapace road and the 347 00:51:54,960 --> 00:52:02,800 access road because access road is a G dot corridor. Lithuan County Development 348 00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:07,280 Services was reviewed for compliance with the UDO recommend for approvals. 349 00:52:04,720 --> 00:52:12,480 Also, our storm water management division has also reviewed and approved. 350 00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:16,880 GIS have reviewed and approved as well as the Newton County Water Authority. 351 00:52:15,280 --> 00:52:22,440 They've reviewed and recommended approval and they're providing both 352 00:52:18,720 --> 00:52:22,440 water and sewer. 353 00:52:22,960 --> 00:52:28,079 So, comments from the planning commission meeting on June 23rd, 2026. 354 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:31,599 Several residents and attendees spoke in opposition at the planning commission 355 00:52:29,520 --> 00:52:35,280 meeting. Those in opposition said that they were concerned with the high 356 00:52:32,880 --> 00:52:39,280 residential density. the impact on traffic congestion and that these homes 357 00:52:37,119 --> 00:52:42,800 may end up as rentals rather than owner occupied. One member of the planning 358 00:52:41,359 --> 00:52:46,319 commission asked whether the developer would be willing to name a street after 359 00:52:44,240 --> 00:52:50,880 Dinapace who originally resided in a small cabin and I think she took like 360 00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:54,880 orphan children um as part of her life's work. Members of the planning commission 361 00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:59,119 expressed concern for traffic congestion and single family homes that may become 362 00:52:56,559 --> 00:53:03,119 rentals run and owner occupied and the planning commission subsequently denied 363 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:06,400 the preliminary plat. So in conclusion, initially the project 364 00:53:04,880 --> 00:53:12,480 as stated was to be annexed into Portoale. Um DRRI was completed 365 00:53:10,960 --> 00:53:15,760 um and they provided their results for that. The project is also in close 366 00:53:14,160 --> 00:53:19,839 proximity to the Yellow River and other sensitive environmental wetlands and 367 00:53:17,280 --> 00:53:25,119 flood plane areas which could negatively impact be impacted due to the density 368 00:53:22,800 --> 00:53:28,480 that they're proposing. Further, it is anticipated that a significant amount of 369 00:53:26,720 --> 00:53:32,160 traffic contributing to congestion will be added to the existing Brownbridge 370 00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:36,240 Road and Crowell roads as the main Thor affairs to Interstate 20. Recent and 371 00:53:34,559 --> 00:53:40,079 existing developments in close proximity to those proposed developments that also 372 00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:45,440 utilize Crowell Road and Brownbridge roads would include adopts landing point 373 00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:52,000 Grand River, Silver Ridge, Benton Woods, Leafstone and Oakwood Manor which give 374 00:53:47,680 --> 00:53:55,200 approximately a total of 14 92 units. So the current traffic study was completed 375 00:53:53,520 --> 00:53:58,880 in 2023 when they were um when the proposed uses 376 00:53:57,119 --> 00:54:04,000 were higher and those other subdivisions hadn't come online. Um we don't have any 377 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:09,040 updated traffic impact study since then for um what they're proposing currently. 378 00:54:06,960 --> 00:54:13,440 So in addition there will be an anticipated impact on the existing 379 00:54:11,200 --> 00:54:16,800 facilities and services particularly with the other highdensity developments 380 00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:19,920 that have since been approved in the vicinity. So should the board of 381 00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:23,760 commissioners approve this preliminary plan, it should be with the following 382 00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:28,079 recommendations and it will be conceptual only. It must meet or exceed 383 00:54:26,800 --> 00:54:33,040 all conditions of the unified development ordinance prior to the 384 00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:35,839 issuance of a land disturbance permit. So recommended conditions. So the 385 00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:39,280 proposed preliminary plant has been reviewed by development services. It 386 00:54:37,760 --> 00:54:45,920 meets the minimum requirements for sections 1415- 030 and section 430 of 387 00:54:43,520 --> 00:54:48,720 the UDU. Staff is of the opinion that should the board of commissioners 388 00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:52,640 approve the plunary plant, it should be subject to the following conditions. So, 389 00:54:51,119 --> 00:54:56,160 prior to obtaining a land disturbance permit, all comments from the Newton 390 00:54:54,160 --> 00:55:00,240 County Fire Department, development services department, and transportation 391 00:54:58,000 --> 00:55:04,319 department shall be addressed. Prior to obtaining a land disturbance permit, 392 00:55:02,240 --> 00:55:09,839 comments from external agencies such as the water authority, um, G dot and water 393 00:55:08,319 --> 00:55:13,920 conservation commission shall be addressed as applicable. They need to 394 00:55:12,079 --> 00:55:17,920 provide an amended traffic study to reflect new traffic patterns and 395 00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:22,160 densities of the subdivision and neighboring subdivisions. Provide a 396 00:55:20,160 --> 00:55:26,480 wetland delineation study as part of the land disturbance permit. 397 00:55:24,800 --> 00:55:30,720 This is an aerial view of the parcels. So, it's all the parcels with um with 398 00:55:28,480 --> 00:55:35,760 the stars. Some of the parcels up here and then this large one here and then 399 00:55:32,240 --> 00:55:41,000 these two at the bottom. Zoning is R2. Everything in yellow. 400 00:55:41,520 --> 00:55:47,760 These are the Carter area maps. So, conservation recreation follows the 401 00:55:45,280 --> 00:55:54,119 yellow river. We have the live work 402 00:55:50,720 --> 00:55:54,119 in the green. 403 00:55:54,480 --> 00:56:01,920 This is our flood plane map. So again, these are the parcels in place. So flood 404 00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:04,559 plane is significant on the parcels that they're working with. So the areas that 405 00:56:03,280 --> 00:56:09,440 they're building on would just be the areas that are not in the flood plane 406 00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:13,359 would be the brown area. This is our wetlands map. There's no 407 00:56:11,760 --> 00:56:16,760 disturbance or building permitted in the wetland areas. 408 00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:25,040 This is the proposed preliminary plat. Um 310 units. So it extends all the way 409 00:56:21,599 --> 00:56:28,559 up to the access road. We have our ex um ingress and egress points. We have two 410 00:56:26,640 --> 00:56:33,119 up here and then we have the third one out on Brownbridge Road. Of course, the 411 00:56:30,720 --> 00:56:38,760 yellow rivers on this side here. Green areas are the flood planes, flood plane 412 00:56:35,599 --> 00:56:38,760 and wetlands. 413 00:56:40,319 --> 00:56:46,160 Um, that's it for staff. Are there any questions? If not, chairman, this is a 414 00:56:44,400 --> 00:56:48,960 public hearing and the applicant has his presentation. 415 00:56:47,359 --> 00:56:51,839 » Thank you. So, it's my understanding that you guys have already had a public 416 00:56:50,640 --> 00:56:56,079 hearing. >> You haven't. You haven't. Okay. Thank 417 00:56:54,640 --> 00:57:00,240 you. >> Public hearing. 418 00:56:56,799 --> 00:57:03,520 » Okay. It is 8. It is 7:57. So, at this time, we're going to open it up for our 419 00:57:01,520 --> 00:57:06,640 public hearing tonight. the applicant and those that like to speak in favor 420 00:57:05,200 --> 00:57:10,480 tonight. If you come at this time, you have 10 minutes to do so. The applicant 421 00:57:08,960 --> 00:57:16,160 and those that would like to speak in favor tonight. 422 00:57:13,520 --> 00:57:19,599 Before we start, um I know sometimes it's hard to see the screens. We have 423 00:57:17,599 --> 00:57:24,119 some hard copies of the presentation. If you guys would be okay receiving those. 424 00:57:29,520 --> 00:57:34,760 There's more. more just in case. 425 00:57:49,280 --> 00:57:55,280 » Awesome. Thank you so much, Kenneth Wood, 350 Research Court. Thank you guys 426 00:57:53,920 --> 00:58:00,079 for letting us speak tonight. commissioners. Um, I want to talk about 427 00:57:57,200 --> 00:58:03,359 the project, its location, and why after all the changes that it's been through, 428 00:58:01,680 --> 00:58:07,440 it's the it's the right project for the site and how we've kind of gotten to 429 00:58:04,960 --> 00:58:14,480 that point. Um, is there a clicker? Can we Oh, I'm sorry. The side right here. 430 00:58:12,880 --> 00:58:18,400 So, this is the map of it. Obviously, we're along the Yellow River that you 431 00:58:16,079 --> 00:58:22,319 can see there. We chose conservation. I'll walk you guys exactly through why 432 00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:27,200 we chose the conservation on the R2 to protect the lands, be able to have more 433 00:58:24,559 --> 00:58:30,319 common area for the development for all the residents that would live in there. 434 00:58:29,040 --> 00:58:33,839 Um, and I'll kind of walk you through the different type of zonings and what 435 00:58:31,920 --> 00:58:37,200 we're seeing in the surrounding area. This is the map. You can kind of see the 436 00:58:35,599 --> 00:58:40,960 different surrounding areas, different subdivisions. We've kind of analyzed 437 00:58:38,880 --> 00:58:45,280 those and looked at how we kind of comport to those. This is our site plan. 438 00:58:43,839 --> 00:58:48,880 It's a little bit deceiving when you're talking about a development that's 439 00:58:46,480 --> 00:58:53,920 almost 400 acres. It can be hard to see on a scale, but the lots are almost half 440 00:58:51,599 --> 00:58:58,480 an acre and they go up over an over an acre. Um, and so we have a big swath of 441 00:58:56,480 --> 00:59:01,359 different sizes that we have in this. Um, when you're looking at the different 442 00:58:59,839 --> 00:59:06,240 plans, we tried to sit up on the hillside. We still have a lot of area 443 00:59:03,359 --> 00:59:10,319 that is parks, recreational areas, uh, basically areas going to be for parks. 444 00:59:08,319 --> 00:59:14,000 And you can see just how far pulled away from the Yellow River it is. uh the way 445 00:59:12,400 --> 00:59:17,119 the topography works and the way we were able to set it up and then have some 446 00:59:15,599 --> 00:59:22,960 different pocket parks throughout the entire uh subdivision. Originally, this 447 00:59:20,160 --> 00:59:27,200 this started at the 6, you know, 43 that we're originally at. That got pulled 448 00:59:24,960 --> 00:59:31,520 back. We started looking at the land. We actually thought we had a plan. There 449 00:59:28,960 --> 00:59:35,760 was some bonus density. Um the staff did a great job. They showed us in the code 450 00:59:33,119 --> 00:59:40,960 where that that was not applicable. And so that's where we dropped down to the 451 00:59:37,680 --> 00:59:46,480 310. So the second plan that we had was 390 lots. Um and then after that uh 452 00:59:44,319 --> 00:59:51,359 conversations with staff we resubmitted and that's the plan in front of you. Um 453 00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:55,920 that you see there at 310 and that density is 74 and I'm going to kind of 454 00:59:54,559 --> 01:00:01,359 walk you guys through a couple of things with that. So on the traffic study, we 455 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:05,599 we have updated a traffic study, but we're even we're basically going to 456 01:00:03,040 --> 01:00:10,160 comply with all of the study that said what we need to comply with, even with 457 01:00:07,280 --> 01:00:14,640 the larger number. And so turn lanes on access road to get in, uh the turn lanes 458 01:00:12,799 --> 01:00:20,960 and additions we need to do to dine a pace, also on Brown Bridge, uh left turn 459 01:00:17,839 --> 01:00:24,000 lanes, del lanes, basically the full uh turning movements that we're going to be 460 01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:27,680 required to do. So we know we're going to have to do that. So, we're prepared 461 01:00:25,680 --> 01:00:31,599 to be required to do all of those when you look at it on here. One of the 462 01:00:30,319 --> 01:00:35,760 things I want to show because like I said, it's a little deceiving. I want to 463 01:00:33,040 --> 01:00:40,640 misspel dispel any any confusion on this. So, the density is 78 and I just 464 01:00:38,319 --> 01:00:44,079 kind of highlighted all of the densities kind of, you know, throughout the county 465 01:00:42,160 --> 01:00:48,799 as well in some of the cities. Uh there's a 1.4 just to our east of us and 466 01:00:46,720 --> 01:00:53,599 then a 2.1. Everything else is much higher. And so we did an analysis and 467 01:00:51,280 --> 01:00:57,520 looked at even if we took out took out all of the flood plane on the site, 468 01:00:55,599 --> 01:01:00,720 including all of the wetlands, all the flood plane, and that's what is 469 01:00:58,799 --> 01:01:06,240 highlighted on here. And you can still see a lot of the the additional extra 470 01:01:03,440 --> 01:01:12,000 green space the plan has. Um we're still just at 1.4. And so we're still as low 471 01:01:09,040 --> 01:01:15,119 as the lowest density of any subdivision around us. And that's why I was saying I 472 01:01:13,599 --> 01:01:20,720 just wanted to be able to kind of call that out because it's sometimes tough to 473 01:01:16,720 --> 01:01:24,880 see the 399 and think 310 seems like a a big number when you actually look at it 474 01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:29,599 in this large of a track. It's not. Um this is also what's around us. Um we're 475 01:01:27,040 --> 01:01:33,520 either larger or directly equal to the largest lots around us. And everything 476 01:01:31,599 --> 01:01:37,599 I've heard in terms of you know what the county is looking for from uh talking 477 01:01:35,599 --> 01:01:43,040 with different people. single family detached, a big backyard, almost half an 478 01:01:40,640 --> 01:01:47,680 acre going up to an acre. Um, we're planning on hitting 400 to 500 sale 479 01:01:45,760 --> 01:01:52,240 prices in here and I've got some pictures to show that. Uh, these are 480 01:01:50,079 --> 01:01:56,480 some areas basically right here to basically look at this is distances from 481 01:01:54,319 --> 01:02:00,720 the wetlands uh that we have. We have been able to go locate the wetlands and 482 01:01:58,640 --> 01:02:05,760 you can see some of places were 400 feet, some of them were over, you know, 483 01:02:03,359 --> 01:02:09,599 145 feet. the closest place on that one little ridge, we're still upwards of 484 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:13,280 almost 100 feet. So, we're staying way away from the environmentally sensitive 485 01:02:11,359 --> 01:02:17,040 areas and we're adding a lot of storm water features to make sure we can take 486 01:02:15,040 --> 01:02:20,480 care of the trees and the storm water and that that's the reason we're trying 487 01:02:18,319 --> 01:02:24,640 to do the conservation is we're trying to protect the trees, have a lot of open 488 01:02:22,400 --> 01:02:28,720 space that's common to the development. Um, we created another exhibit just to 489 01:02:26,720 --> 01:02:33,520 be able to show just how large the lots are. And this is our minimum lot. And 490 01:02:30,880 --> 01:02:39,119 so, the lots are over 200 feet deep. And you can see the backyards are almost 160 491 01:02:36,160 --> 01:02:43,119 ft deep. So the minimum width is 75. And so that supports a really large house. 492 01:02:41,359 --> 01:02:47,599 All the houses will be at, you know, 15 to 20 feet apart. And so this is, you 493 01:02:45,599 --> 01:02:51,680 know, this is a larger lot, single family detach, very, you know, high-end 494 01:02:49,760 --> 01:02:55,680 subdivision that we're trying to provide and what we're looking to do uh for the 495 01:02:53,680 --> 01:02:59,280 way it sets up. So just wanted to have a couple images. We're going to have a 496 01:02:56,960 --> 01:03:05,599 master amenity with a large clubhouse, a pool, um big playground areas, uh bark 497 01:03:02,880 --> 01:03:11,119 parks, dog parks, and outside gathering areas, um pavilions, walking trails. It 498 01:03:08,720 --> 01:03:15,200 the the development sets up so well. You have different places you can access the 499 01:03:13,119 --> 01:03:18,880 traffic and distribution, but we also have so much open space that we can 500 01:03:17,039 --> 01:03:24,319 really take advantage of that and make it a special subdivision. Access to the 501 01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:27,440 river is huge. Um, you know, being able to have something that where you can get 502 01:03:25,760 --> 01:03:31,280 down to the river kind of through some of the lower areas is something that not 503 01:03:29,599 --> 01:03:35,359 a lot of subdivisions have, and this could be a subdivision that can have 504 01:03:32,720 --> 01:03:39,599 that available uh to it. Uh, these are some pictures of the homes. Uh, it's a 505 01:03:37,039 --> 01:03:43,359 mixture of one-story homes as well as uh twostory homes, but as you can see, you 506 01:03:41,839 --> 01:03:46,880 know, we're targeting the larger homes. That's what we're looking at doing for 507 01:03:44,640 --> 01:03:50,799 the single family detached. Um, and having a mixture of different type of 508 01:03:48,400 --> 01:03:53,920 styles, substantial materials, uh, that we'd be looking at through the 509 01:03:52,160 --> 01:03:58,000 development. And we just did some additional analysis with some of the 510 01:03:55,920 --> 01:04:02,880 surrounding subdivisions that we have and and what we're what we're looking at 511 01:04:00,160 --> 01:04:06,960 and and going toward. I wanted to touch on a couple of things. So, we did had 512 01:04:04,799 --> 01:04:11,039 some comments at the at the preliminary plat hearing. There's some confusion. 513 01:04:08,559 --> 01:04:14,799 originally a motion to defer and we requested um a decision because we 514 01:04:12,960 --> 01:04:18,799 didn't think there could be a deferral. So, there's some confusion there. But 515 01:04:16,799 --> 01:04:22,799 some of the comments that came out were about Dina Pace and an orphanage that 516 01:04:20,880 --> 01:04:26,400 was on the property. We actually found some deeds and a lot of items to 517 01:04:24,480 --> 01:04:31,119 support. It's just just to the east of the property, not on this property, but 518 01:04:28,559 --> 01:04:35,839 we we said that we would do something uh to um make acknowledgement and to 519 01:04:33,599 --> 01:04:39,680 respect all of the history in the area. So, we're proposing to dedicate 520 01:04:37,760 --> 01:04:44,079 somewhere around a quarter to a half an acre right at the main entrance. Um, 521 01:04:42,319 --> 01:04:48,400 that would be basically a green space. We would build the trails that you see, 522 01:04:45,839 --> 01:04:52,960 the sitting areas, create plaques. Um, and this be dedicated and whether that's 523 01:04:50,240 --> 01:04:58,559 dedicated to the county or dedicated to um a a um you know, a conservation item 524 01:04:56,880 --> 01:05:02,559 that, you know, can can overlook the park or whether our HOA uh takes care of 525 01:05:00,960 --> 01:05:06,480 the park. But we we wanted to be able to do that in response to what we had 526 01:05:04,400 --> 01:05:10,720 heard. And we so we did a lot of diving deep into this um into response for that 527 01:05:09,039 --> 01:05:14,480 and then making sure that we responded to the traffic and that we are going to 528 01:05:12,160 --> 01:05:18,400 put in we are find conditioning we are going to put in the turn lanes and the 529 01:05:16,240 --> 01:05:22,319 del lanes all of them that are necessary to facilitate the traffic and make sure 530 01:05:20,160 --> 01:05:27,280 there's smooth flow uh throughout the development uh that we have here. And uh 531 01:05:25,119 --> 01:05:30,720 I'd love to keep any remaining time just in case there's questions um from 532 01:05:28,880 --> 01:05:36,319 citizens that come up that I can um explain afterwards. 533 01:05:32,720 --> 01:05:39,599 » Thank you sir. Thank you so much. >> Anyone else would like to speak in favor 534 01:05:38,079 --> 01:05:43,760 tonight? Anyone else would like to speak in favor 535 01:05:41,280 --> 01:05:47,359 tonight? >> Thank you. We also allow u 10 minutes 536 01:05:45,920 --> 01:05:50,559 for those that would like to oppose tonight. If you'd like to oppose 537 01:05:49,039 --> 01:05:54,559 tonight, please come up and state your name and address, please, for the 538 01:05:51,920 --> 01:05:58,359 record. You may come at this time. Have 10 minutes to do so. 539 01:05:58,480 --> 01:06:04,799 Good evening. >> Good evening. Um, chairman, 540 01:06:02,720 --> 01:06:09,359 commissioners, county staff, members of Newton County community, my name is Hale 541 01:06:07,039 --> 01:06:14,720 Lima Muhamd and I'm a concerned citizen um, local elected official and advocate 542 01:06:12,160 --> 01:06:19,280 for um, the preservation of the legacy of Donna Watts Pace. I'm here tonight 543 01:06:17,359 --> 01:06:24,720 because I believe a responsible development requirements requires us to 544 01:06:22,240 --> 01:06:30,799 understand what we may be disturbing before it is disturbed. Donna Watts Pace 545 01:06:28,079 --> 01:06:35,440 dedicated her life um to caring for and educating children in Newton County. Her 546 01:06:33,599 --> 01:06:41,760 work and the history surrounding it deserves more than assumptions about 547 01:06:37,920 --> 01:06:46,960 what may or may not remain. Um prior to um the developers coming up, there was a 548 01:06:44,319 --> 01:06:53,760 comment made that it was a small cabinet cabinet um that housed 700 um children. 549 01:06:51,119 --> 01:06:59,280 That is an assumption that it was small. I asked the B board, has the county 550 01:06:56,960 --> 01:07:05,440 conducted an adequate historical review of the property? Has the area been 551 01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:11,839 evaluated for unidentified burial sites or rem human remains? Have historic 552 01:07:08,720 --> 01:07:17,200 maps, deeds, serial photographs, land records, and other archival material 553 01:07:14,720 --> 01:07:22,240 been thoroughly reviewed? Have a qualified archaeologist or historic 554 01:07:19,440 --> 01:07:27,359 preservation professional evaluated the relevant portions of the property? Can 555 01:07:25,200 --> 01:07:33,280 the county confidently say that the historic cleaf significant resources 556 01:07:30,319 --> 01:07:37,520 will not be destroyed? If we cannot confidently answer those questions 557 01:07:35,039 --> 01:07:44,079 tonight, then we may not be ready to vote yes tonight. I am asking the board 558 01:07:41,200 --> 01:07:48,079 not to vote yes tonight. take the time necessary to do the research, consult 559 01:07:46,240 --> 01:07:53,200 the appropriate professionals, and determine what is actually there before 560 01:07:50,319 --> 01:07:58,000 allowing irreversible disturbance of the land. This is not an argument that 561 01:07:55,680 --> 01:08:02,400 development can never happen. I am team development all day. Um, it is an 562 01:08:00,640 --> 01:08:07,359 argument that responsible government should know what it is authorizing 563 01:08:04,799 --> 01:08:12,079 before the ground is disturbed. If the research is done and nothing is found, 564 01:08:09,359 --> 01:08:17,279 then at least we will know we acted responsibly. But if we approve this 565 01:08:15,200 --> 01:08:22,319 first and discover later that something important was destroyed, there is no 566 01:08:20,080 --> 01:08:28,239 vote we can take afterwards to put it back. We can always come back and vote. 567 01:08:25,679 --> 01:08:33,440 We cannot unearthed history twice. Her legacy deserve to be preserved. Please 568 01:08:30,880 --> 01:08:38,080 do the research before you vote yes. And I'm asking everyone who believe um that 569 01:08:36,400 --> 01:08:41,679 history deserves to be protected to visit the donapaceleacy.org. 570 01:08:40,799 --> 01:08:46,279 Thank you. >> Thank you. 571 01:08:42,880 --> 01:08:46,279 » Anyone else? 572 01:08:51,839 --> 01:08:59,920 » Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Summer Aul. This is my daughter 573 01:08:56,000 --> 01:09:05,199 Autumn Aul. We stay off Karen Ridge. And um first of all I would like to say that 574 01:09:02,880 --> 01:09:08,960 that was a great presentation that the gentleman came up here and gave every 575 01:09:06,880 --> 01:09:12,480 point that a real estate development would want to come and give. However, 576 01:09:11,040 --> 01:09:17,920 the one thing missing from his presentation was it represented humans. 577 01:09:15,679 --> 01:09:24,159 He talked about even the trees. He was going to put a a half of acre of land 578 01:09:21,279 --> 01:09:30,480 and dedication uh to Mrs. Pace out of 400 acres. How generous. But just as he 579 01:09:28,799 --> 01:09:35,040 showed when he came up here and gave you all these papers to look at so you can 580 01:09:32,560 --> 01:09:38,960 see it closely. The residents the residents we live around here we would 581 01:09:36,799 --> 01:09:43,359 like to see it closely. We are never considered when we come to these types 582 01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:48,719 of things. You want to bring 400 houses into a area that's already congested. 583 01:09:46,560 --> 01:09:53,279 Right at the corner of our street there was someone who just recently died as 584 01:09:50,640 --> 01:09:56,880 I'm sure you all know. He may know but he will not say that. I am here to say 585 01:09:55,280 --> 01:10:00,480 that. But I'm here to speak for all the people that live around here who we 586 01:09:58,560 --> 01:10:04,080 bought our homes. We bought our homes to raise our children here. We did not 587 01:10:02,239 --> 01:10:08,719 bring our homes to have all of this congestion. All of these businesses 588 01:10:06,159 --> 01:10:14,880 built in residential areas. All of these homes built for profit. All of these 589 01:10:11,199 --> 01:10:20,960 homes without the even the consideration of bringing rental properties into 590 01:10:17,280 --> 01:10:26,960 homeowners areas. We saved our money to buy homes to raise our children to live 591 01:10:23,760 --> 01:10:31,760 in nature. We we came to Coington for the trees that are being torn down for 592 01:10:29,520 --> 01:10:37,120 all these houses. With that being said, for anyone here on the panel or in the 593 01:10:33,920 --> 01:10:40,800 audience who are who are parents or have el elderly people in their family, I 594 01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:48,000 would like for you to hear what my daughter has to say. 595 01:10:43,120 --> 01:10:53,920 » Okay. Um, when he said uh to help the trees out or something like that, I feel 596 01:10:50,800 --> 01:10:57,920 like you would tear down the trees in order to put the building right there 597 01:10:55,920 --> 01:11:02,880 because isn't that necessary to put it where a forest is, but it's kind of 598 01:11:01,120 --> 01:11:09,000 unnecessary. I don't know what else to say. 599 01:11:04,480 --> 01:11:09,000 » It's okay. What her point is 600 01:11:09,339 --> 01:11:12,920 [applause] Her 601 01:11:13,440 --> 01:11:19,440 point is is that as I stated, we came here to live in nature. We moved to 602 01:11:17,520 --> 01:11:23,280 Coington out of anywhere in the United States because this is a rural area. 603 01:11:21,440 --> 01:11:26,239 This is an area that we want to raise our children in, live in nature. And 604 01:11:24,719 --> 01:11:30,239 when you tear down all those trees for these type of properties that are for 605 01:11:28,080 --> 01:11:34,159 financial gain, where do those animals go? No one thinks about that. But again, 606 01:11:32,400 --> 01:11:37,360 as I said, I'm here for the human rights and everyone who was neglected in this 607 01:11:35,840 --> 01:11:40,800 audience who didn't get to see that up close piece of paper that was printed 608 01:11:38,960 --> 01:11:43,800 out so nicely for the board here. Thank you. 609 01:11:44,709 --> 01:11:50,400 [applause] >> Anyone else? 610 01:11:48,400 --> 01:11:54,800 » Good evening. I'll be very brief. You said everything in the right way. Uh, 611 01:11:52,880 --> 01:11:59,120 nice presentation, but you didn't consult with the 612 01:11:56,640 --> 01:12:04,560 community. You said you consulted with the county. Nice presentation. 613 01:12:01,920 --> 01:12:08,640 Nice presentation there, Miss Apple White. But nowhere I see where the 614 01:12:06,960 --> 01:12:16,480 office of sheriff or law enforcement is going to be uh involved. G dot G dot is 615 01:12:12,719 --> 01:12:24,000 not going to address the issues on the roads there on Donna Pace. Um good 616 01:12:20,640 --> 01:12:29,360 thinking. you had uh mentioned that you was going to do 700 617 01:12:26,159 --> 01:12:33,360 houses or so and then you cut it down to 300, but yet it's still if you do that 618 01:12:31,840 --> 01:12:37,440 when you turn around and you look at the math with the houses that we have 619 01:12:35,440 --> 01:12:41,440 currently up there, you're going to be looking at about 700 vehicles trying to 620 01:12:39,679 --> 01:12:44,880 come out of there in the morning time, trying to get back there in the 621 01:12:42,800 --> 01:12:49,760 afternoon. And I know there's other want to speak, but I submit to you perhaps 622 01:12:47,280 --> 01:12:56,160 there's a place for these houses to be built, but not on Donna Pace. Now, 623 01:12:54,140 --> 01:12:56,160 [applause] 624 01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:04,000 we continue we continue to put everything on the western side of the 625 01:13:02,640 --> 01:13:08,080 county. >> On the western side of the county, we 626 01:13:05,600 --> 01:13:13,120 continue to put everything over there, but the services is not there. So before 627 01:13:11,360 --> 01:13:18,560 we move forward, I think we need to look at where we are with the infrastructure, 628 01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:23,199 where we are with with services. And that's the end of my presentation, but 629 01:13:20,159 --> 01:13:26,946 please listen at the female before anyone else. [applause] 630 01:13:32,239 --> 01:13:39,040 » Good evening everybody. I'm Anderson Bailey. I live at 1054 Diner Place Road. 631 01:13:37,440 --> 01:13:42,560 Also a representative of the school board. 632 01:13:40,320 --> 01:13:47,520 Now we are impacting our schools already. We're packing out and uh Mr. 633 01:13:45,280 --> 01:13:51,920 Edwards used once on the school board. Now they bringing in more houses. What? 634 01:13:49,280 --> 01:13:56,560 That's going to bring more children. So with more children, it's going to be 635 01:13:53,600 --> 01:14:01,520 more uh issues are impacting the schools. And not only that, you know, 636 01:13:59,280 --> 01:14:06,320 they talk all the nice stuff. They did a great presentation. They made their soup 637 01:14:04,000 --> 01:14:11,679 and they served it. But the thing is the taste is not good. not for that area. 638 01:14:09,679 --> 01:14:18,080 And right now, everything is being built, but our schools is tight. They're 639 01:14:15,600 --> 01:14:21,840 tight now. Every day we got something going on. So, what are we going to do? 640 01:14:20,320 --> 01:14:26,320 Invite more and more traffic? We're going to invite more and more headache? 641 01:14:23,920 --> 01:14:29,600 You talking about building uh turning lanes? Where you going to get that 642 01:14:28,320 --> 01:14:33,120 property? You going to make everybody give up something just to build 643 01:14:30,880 --> 01:14:39,760 something? Here we go again. We're going to be back in front of you again. And so 644 01:14:36,640 --> 01:14:45,679 everybody think about where you live at. Just think for sake where you live. 645 01:14:43,199 --> 01:14:50,159 Would you want all this in your area? Everybody got their own private big 646 01:14:47,360 --> 01:14:54,000 yards, big houses, but we want our little houses. We want our little area. 647 01:14:52,400 --> 01:15:00,239 We've been out there for years. We love each other. We get along. 648 01:14:57,199 --> 01:15:06,000 So when you invite outsiders to come in, if G dot then put turning lanes up there 649 01:15:03,520 --> 01:15:10,239 on D down Pace Road, look at how hard it is now to get out. 650 01:15:08,400 --> 01:15:13,600 You playing jump rope trying to get in and get in the traffic and get out. And 651 01:15:11,600 --> 01:15:18,320 when something happen on the expressway, guess what? They on the side road going 652 01:15:15,520 --> 01:15:24,000 home or either coming to town and that just going to be more traffic. They 653 01:15:20,480 --> 01:15:28,960 don't live here. They comfortable. They making money. 654 01:15:25,920 --> 01:15:31,840 So they getting paid. So I just ask y'all to look at it because it's a lot 655 01:15:30,480 --> 01:15:36,000 of houses around here in Coverington right now. They move in, they move out, 656 01:15:33,760 --> 01:15:41,840 they abandon. It's just an in out inout thing. But if 657 01:15:38,640 --> 01:15:45,760 y'all just really take consideration and look at this night, table it, do 658 01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:48,400 whatever you got to do. Give us a chance to be heard. I appreciate that. Thank 659 01:15:48,000 --> 01:15:53,012 you. >> Thank you, sir. Anyone else? [applause] 660 01:16:01,920 --> 01:16:06,719 Good evening. My name is Janelle West. I'll make it short and sweet because I'm 661 01:16:05,120 --> 01:16:11,120 a constituent, not any of the board members. You should deny the um you 662 01:16:09,440 --> 01:16:16,320 should affirm the planning commission's deni denial of the application because 663 01:16:13,520 --> 01:16:21,440 it will put a strain on the school districts and on the resources allocated 664 01:16:19,760 --> 01:16:28,960 for this area where citizens already complain about response time from uh 665 01:16:25,040 --> 01:16:33,360 ambulance police and in regards to traffic everyone used up all the time. 666 01:16:31,280 --> 01:16:40,080 So I've truncated everything right there but I'm a constituent. I'm not a part of 667 01:16:35,840 --> 01:16:43,448 the government. We don't want it. >> Thank you, ma'am. [cheering] 668 01:16:44,048 --> 01:16:46,068 [applause] 669 01:16:46,880 --> 01:16:56,520 » Thank you. It's 3 seconds. 3 seconds. Anyone else? You got three seconds. 670 01:16:51,440 --> 01:16:56,520 Three seconds. Three seconds. 671 01:16:58,400 --> 01:17:01,719 » Three seconds. 672 01:17:01,840 --> 01:17:05,840 » Good evening, commissioners. Good evening. 673 01:17:03,600 --> 01:17:09,360 » My name is Gladstone Nicholson. >> It's been a while since I've been here. 674 01:17:07,679 --> 01:17:13,040 I just want to say this. >> Do the same standards for the east side 675 01:17:11,199 --> 01:17:14,480 as west side when you start building along permits. 676 01:17:13,920 --> 01:17:17,480 » Thank you, sir. >> Thanks. 677 01:17:19,418 --> 01:17:21,438 [applause] 678 01:17:22,239 --> 01:17:28,640 » So, I think they wanted to come back. The applicant wanted to come back up. I 679 01:17:25,600 --> 01:17:33,920 think it had two minutes remaining. How much was it? How much? 680 01:17:30,880 --> 01:17:39,199 » Yep. Two minutes and 17 seconds. Sir, we got two two minutes and 17 seconds. 681 01:17:36,400 --> 01:17:44,560 » Sounds is Do I have the clicker still? So, so I just want to respond, you know, 682 01:17:41,199 --> 01:17:48,320 with like um Am I able to? So, we had found like we've we've done a 683 01:17:46,640 --> 01:17:52,320 lot of research and we're not trying to, you know, we're not trying to argue at 684 01:17:49,760 --> 01:17:56,000 all. Um we had, you know, found a deed that described it as being to the east 685 01:17:54,080 --> 01:17:59,679 of the site, you know, and it says it very specifically. We can supply that 686 01:17:58,400 --> 01:18:03,520 coming in. So, we weren't doing that. So, we're just trying to, you know, come 687 01:18:01,520 --> 01:18:07,120 up with a really a really nice, you know, design if you're coming down so 688 01:18:05,040 --> 01:18:10,320 that everyone in the neighborhood could could have something for the Dina Pace 689 01:18:08,880 --> 01:18:14,159 Legacy. So, we're we're just trying to come up with an idea that, uh, seemed 690 01:18:12,400 --> 01:18:18,239 very fitting. Uh, I have no problem with meeting with the neighborhood with this 691 01:18:15,760 --> 01:18:21,920 being already zoned. Not part of the, you know, the typical process like a 692 01:18:19,840 --> 01:18:25,280 zoning. Um, but, you know, I don't have a problem with meeting anybody running 693 01:18:23,760 --> 01:18:28,880 through the plan. I think it's, you know, a great plan. We were looking at 694 01:18:26,960 --> 01:18:33,280 the conservation because you can, you know, you can see on the plan where, you 695 01:18:31,040 --> 01:18:36,960 know, all the little green areas, those are all common areas at the edge and 696 01:18:35,199 --> 01:18:41,360 then there's so much more common area in the center of the site. Uh most of the 697 01:18:39,440 --> 01:18:45,840 trees are cleared on the areas where we're building the homes uh that you see 698 01:18:43,840 --> 01:18:49,440 there. So, so much of the trees are down in the kind of the lower areas and some 699 01:18:47,440 --> 01:18:53,679 of the fall areas. That's why we chose the conservation and felt like it was 700 01:18:51,679 --> 01:18:58,320 definitely the most appropriate uh for this, you know, here. Um, you know, 701 01:18:56,080 --> 01:19:01,840 being R2, being larger lot, single family, 702 01:18:59,840 --> 01:19:06,080 we felt like that, you know, you know, having nice homes in the area, having 703 01:19:03,520 --> 01:19:11,440 single family detached, a big yard, a really powerful HOA that can take care 704 01:19:08,960 --> 01:19:15,679 of the land, take care of the grounds, that that was that was the direction, 705 01:19:13,600 --> 01:19:20,080 you know, it being zoned R2, that that was what is most appropriate for this. 706 01:19:18,080 --> 01:19:25,040 And like I said, we're not trying to, you know, go against anybody or or or do 707 01:19:22,400 --> 01:19:30,159 anything at all. We're happy to um as part of a permitting process, if 708 01:19:27,040 --> 01:19:34,320 approved, we're happy to get with RS Webb, who's a historian, and let them 709 01:19:32,159 --> 01:19:37,600 come on the site and do the research and provide the outcome of that. Um, you 710 01:19:36,480 --> 01:19:40,960 know, we're just we're just here to listen. We're here to, you know, we 711 01:19:39,120 --> 01:19:44,880 think this is a great project. It's just a large piece of land, but it does 712 01:19:43,040 --> 01:19:49,360 distribute property in a in a really great way. Uh G do DOT I know is going 713 01:19:47,199 --> 01:19:54,080 to let us provide turn lanes and really help with the traffic mitigation on both 714 01:19:51,600 --> 01:19:57,840 of the entrances and exits and we're willing to do that in conditions as 715 01:19:55,520 --> 01:20:01,280 well. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. 716 01:19:59,840 --> 01:20:07,360 » Thank you sir. Miss Apple White if you would please come on back up. 717 01:20:05,040 --> 01:20:10,360 Commissioner Henderson. What shall we hear? 718 01:20:12,080 --> 01:20:18,880 » Thank you [clears throat] Miss C. Um, you know, one of the things that wasn't 719 01:20:16,480 --> 01:20:25,520 mentioned was the fact that we had been fighting a data center just beyond that 720 01:20:21,840 --> 01:20:29,440 piece of property and the county had nothing to do with it. It was being 721 01:20:27,440 --> 01:20:32,880 annexed by the town of Porterdale. And everybody said, "Jason, you you just 722 01:20:31,120 --> 01:20:37,679 going to make sure they going to put a data center on?" Nope. It was not going 723 01:20:34,719 --> 01:20:43,120 to be no data center that JC Henderson approved uh in in that community or any 724 01:20:40,640 --> 01:20:46,560 community unless it was something that way on back in the country that they 725 01:20:44,719 --> 01:20:51,040 wanted. Then just up the road from that uh on 726 01:20:49,520 --> 01:20:55,440 Core Road, there's another big subdivision in district 4 about 4 or 500 727 01:20:53,840 --> 01:21:01,840 houses, town houses and all that stuff and with little to no infrastructure. 728 01:20:59,040 --> 01:21:06,640 And then in district three, uh Commissioner Cooper had one just beyond 729 01:21:03,679 --> 01:21:11,040 it. If all those things are approved, it ain't going to be so many people on the 730 01:21:08,640 --> 01:21:14,800 road and running down a pace and and all the rest of them. 731 01:21:13,280 --> 01:21:21,679 We've got to do something for infrastructure. 732 01:21:17,440 --> 01:21:25,920 And then, hey, what about uh protection? Police are shared protection. Shared 733 01:21:23,600 --> 01:21:30,880 protection. Tell me something. With the budget decreasing 734 01:21:28,239 --> 01:21:33,280 and the shared budget decreasing, how you going to get an officer and all 735 01:21:32,000 --> 01:21:41,760 those folks get over there when you need one? You tell me because I don't know. 736 01:21:38,640 --> 01:21:45,360 So it's a whole lot of stuff that going on at at Dana Place and then they were 737 01:21:44,159 --> 01:21:49,199 talking about when we first started talking about it. I listened 738 01:21:48,080 --> 01:21:54,480 and they said, "Well, we're going to come in. We're going to fix the come 739 01:21:51,840 --> 01:21:59,360 into down Pace the rightand side, but we're going to leave the other side just 740 01:21:57,120 --> 01:22:06,480 the way it is." I could understand that. So only thing 741 01:22:02,320 --> 01:22:11,199 that I asked then I'm still asking was a community meeting where you come 742 01:22:08,400 --> 01:22:14,960 and get let all the peoples who from down a pace 743 01:22:13,120 --> 01:22:19,040 or anyone else who may want to come attend the meeting and come up and just 744 01:22:17,280 --> 01:22:25,120 tell you about how beautiful their homes are that little piece of land that they 745 01:22:20,960 --> 01:22:29,760 live on. But you you know and I think I and you correct me if I'm wrong James 746 01:22:26,560 --> 01:22:32,719 because you know I'm just who I am. I had asked you to get the number last 747 01:22:31,199 --> 01:22:37,360 week so I could call, we could set up a meeting and I'm talking to our county 748 01:22:35,199 --> 01:22:40,360 manager and what did you relate back to me? 749 01:22:41,679 --> 01:22:50,639 » That was staff was getting the number um and the uh proponent at that time 750 01:22:47,360 --> 01:22:57,880 declined to have a public meeting. So, hold. 751 01:22:53,920 --> 01:22:57,880 So, what I'm saying is 752 01:22:58,080 --> 01:23:05,760 I what I what I'm going to do is table it to give them an opportunity 753 01:23:02,400 --> 01:23:11,280 to come to our public meeting and so you can hear the people who homes 754 01:23:09,600 --> 01:23:17,199 that will be around that big old subdivision that probably that's going 755 01:23:13,440 --> 01:23:21,280 to bring to right across down pay. And there was two vineyards I was 756 01:23:18,639 --> 01:23:27,679 looking at either church in Dana Pace or Bethlehem Baptist Church. 757 01:23:24,480 --> 01:23:34,159 And so what I would like to do my my fellow commissioners for the down of 758 01:23:29,679 --> 01:23:39,600 pacing is to table it for 30 days to give us a t a chance to have a public 759 01:23:37,600 --> 01:23:45,679 meeting with the developers so they can tell you personally 760 01:23:43,360 --> 01:23:51,120 what they want to build in around our community. Secondly, I'm going to have 761 01:23:48,239 --> 01:23:56,800 the sheriff I'm ask him or represent be present to talk about the traffic that 762 01:23:54,159 --> 01:24:03,600 is going to bring to the community. Have the fire chief there talk about possible 763 01:23:59,679 --> 01:24:08,000 fires and we know we have uh uh board education member uh Anson Bay to be 764 01:24:05,440 --> 01:24:14,960 there too as well. So we just want to have a big nice peaceable discussion 765 01:24:11,600 --> 01:24:20,400 with you as far as how how if we move forward 766 01:24:16,880 --> 01:24:24,639 how we could all work together if we can for something. 767 01:24:22,719 --> 01:24:29,360 And lastly, it's standard watchpace. 768 01:24:26,880 --> 01:24:34,400 When I first became a commissioner, I learned about that story. In fact, Mr. 769 01:24:31,920 --> 01:24:40,000 Fleman Pitts made sure I knew about that story. 770 01:24:36,400 --> 01:24:43,520 Uh she had an orphanage and she was a she was a slave, had an orphanage and 771 01:24:41,679 --> 01:24:48,880 she had about two kids that she brought with her and started or orphanage here 772 01:24:46,000 --> 01:24:53,520 on down a pace. She had all the acres that you heard about, what, 400, 500 773 01:24:51,679 --> 01:24:59,120 acres. And she died in 1933. 774 01:24:56,880 --> 01:25:04,000 And when she died, two years, it lasted only two years. And she died, 775 01:25:01,679 --> 01:25:07,679 the history was forgotten. And I refused to let her history be 776 01:25:06,000 --> 01:25:13,920 forgotten because I cried because when I read the story just like my grandmother 777 01:25:11,360 --> 01:25:17,679 or my mother in the plaque they would let they put on 778 01:25:15,920 --> 01:25:22,719 the property where the old oak tree at where there should be some uh some old 779 01:25:20,159 --> 01:25:28,000 slaves some slaves uh head of the headstone there which 780 01:25:24,719 --> 01:25:32,320 rocks around the oak tree. We got into the Dip Pace Park. is upon the sign 781 01:25:30,719 --> 01:25:37,679 talking about what she had did for Donna Pace. 782 01:25:34,639 --> 01:25:42,560 I will not let history at least on my watch be forgotten nowhere in New 783 01:25:40,159 --> 01:25:47,360 County. those people. The reason why I'm here sitting here today, this day is 784 01:25:44,719 --> 01:25:51,679 because of those peoples because I'm standing on their shoulders 785 01:25:49,840 --> 01:25:58,800 in order to be here. Cuz other than that, we wouldn't had a reverend card 786 01:25:55,280 --> 01:26:04,480 and we wouldn't had others to sit in this seat had it not been for them. And 787 01:26:02,400 --> 01:26:07,920 so, but I'm and I'm closing. I'm just going to say this. I'm going to set up a 788 01:26:06,560 --> 01:26:13,360 meeting. I'm ask that another meeting be set up 789 01:26:10,000 --> 01:26:19,040 and we all attend come in peacefully talk about it and then the next meeting 790 01:26:15,360 --> 01:26:24,080 we have a we'll make a decision. So having said that u Mr. Chairman I'd 791 01:26:22,239 --> 01:26:27,199 like to make a motion to table for 30 days. 792 01:26:25,360 --> 01:26:32,480 » Chairman if I may um could we do that for 60 days to allow for readvertising? 793 01:26:30,719 --> 01:26:35,040 » I changed that motion for 60 days. >> Thank you. 794 01:26:33,120 --> 01:26:38,360 » Thank you sir. Thank you ma'am. Um, is there a second? 795 01:26:39,360 --> 01:26:45,520 » It's been motioned by Commissioner Henderson that we table this for 60 days 796 01:26:42,960 --> 01:26:53,120 and second by um, Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? Uh, Commissioner Long. 797 01:26:49,679 --> 01:26:56,159 » Lots of discussion. Okay. Where is that traffic report? How come you haven't 798 01:26:54,560 --> 01:27:01,440 received the updated traffic report that they said they have? 799 01:26:58,719 --> 01:27:04,639 » And we don't have a copy of the amended report at this time. They did not 800 01:27:02,880 --> 01:27:07,920 provide one before tonight, but they're saying they have one. 801 01:27:06,320 --> 01:27:10,560 » It appear that they have done one, but I don't believe we received it, 802 01:27:08,719 --> 01:27:16,320 » but we haven't seen it. And we have 1,500 other homes in this area that are 803 01:27:13,840 --> 01:27:19,760 coming online >> that have come online and existing. 804 01:27:18,159 --> 01:27:22,880 » Okay. All right. That's so they they're in just like we've been talking about 805 01:27:21,040 --> 01:27:26,480 with this UDO, everything that's in the pipeline, you got to remember what's on 806 01:27:24,400 --> 01:27:29,440 down the road. And one of the things that we've been talking about is I know 807 01:27:28,080 --> 01:27:33,280 everybody mentions the eastern end of the county and yes I protect the heck 808 01:27:31,679 --> 01:27:37,360 out of the eastern end of the county but that doesn't mean I'm not going to 809 01:27:34,400 --> 01:27:42,080 protect the western end of the county. So I would like to make a substitute 810 01:27:39,120 --> 01:27:45,080 motion to deny the plat immediately tonight. 811 01:27:47,120 --> 01:27:55,440 Um there's a substitute motion on the floor um made by commissioner long that 812 01:27:52,000 --> 01:27:57,520 we deny this uh plaque tonight. Is there Um a second. 813 01:27:56,719 --> 01:28:02,000 » Second. >> It's been motioned by um Commissioner 814 01:28:00,000 --> 01:28:07,679 Long and second by Commissioner Mason. Any discussion? 815 01:28:04,800 --> 01:28:13,171 » All in favor and stand denied. Thank you. Five. 816 01:28:10,159 --> 01:28:13,171 » Thank you. [applause] 817 01:28:16,880 --> 01:28:22,199 » Next is citizen comments. this opportunity, we allow citiz 818 01:28:27,360 --> 01:28:33,760 Oh, I'm sorry. We do have one more. Miss Apple White, we have one more. Yep, 819 01:28:32,080 --> 01:28:38,960 guys. I apologize. We're We have one more. We're still in um our public 820 01:28:35,679 --> 01:28:44,719 hearing. I have one more. >> My apologies, chairman. Our final item 821 01:28:43,040 --> 01:28:49,520 this evening is for consideration a resolution 081826. 822 01:28:48,000 --> 01:28:55,199 It's a resolution of the Newton County Board of Commissioners extending through 823 01:28:51,360 --> 01:28:59,679 November 4th, 2026 an existing moratorum on the acceptance or approval of new 824 01:28:57,520 --> 01:29:04,480 applications seeking one to resone property to any zoning category that 825 01:29:01,840 --> 01:29:07,920 authorizes residential uses. Two, preliminary plat approval for any 826 01:29:06,320 --> 01:29:12,239 development that includes any residential use. three requests for 827 01:29:10,880 --> 01:29:17,920 temporary building permits for residential uses under section 510640 828 01:29:15,920 --> 01:29:23,440 of the Newton County Unified Development Ordinance. So basically our moratorium 829 01:29:20,800 --> 01:29:27,920 on residential subdivisions will expire on August 19th which is tomorrow. So 830 01:29:26,239 --> 01:29:33,120 we're looking to extend that until November 4th which would coincide with 831 01:29:30,880 --> 01:29:39,440 when we propose to wrap up and have the UDO adopted the updated UDO. 832 01:29:36,560 --> 01:29:41,920 some go ahead. >> I'm ready. 833 01:29:40,080 --> 01:29:45,440 » Okay. I think we got to open this up for a public hearing. Apolog apologies. 834 01:29:44,080 --> 01:29:48,960 » This Yes, this is will be a public hearing. 835 01:29:45,840 --> 01:29:54,320 » Yep. Thank you, ma'am. So, um the applicant, which is um us, 836 01:29:52,400 --> 01:29:58,560 » we have 10 minutes. Anyone want to speak in favor tonight? You have 10 minutes to 837 01:29:55,760 --> 01:30:02,679 do so. You may come at this time. You have 10 minutes to do so. 838 01:30:03,679 --> 01:30:08,880 Thank you. That portion is closed. We also allow 10 minutes for those that 839 01:30:07,440 --> 01:30:11,440 would like to oppose. You have 10 minutes to do so. You may come at this 840 01:30:10,159 --> 01:30:15,679 time. State your name, your address for the record, please. Anyone want to 841 01:30:13,600 --> 01:30:19,520 oppose tonight? Um, anyone want to oppose tonight? That 842 01:30:18,000 --> 01:30:22,600 portion is closed. Miss Apple White, if you would 843 01:30:23,040 --> 01:30:30,159 commissioners, I seek a motion, please. >> It's been motioned by Commissioner Long 844 01:30:28,400 --> 01:30:35,679 and second by Commissioner Cooper. Any discussion? All in favor? Thank you. 845 01:30:34,159 --> 01:30:38,639 passes 5. >> Thank you, chairman. That concludes the 846 01:30:36,960 --> 01:30:42,400 zoning items for this evening. >> Thank you, ma'am. Now, we're citizen 847 01:30:41,040 --> 01:30:45,280 comments. You have three minutes to do so. If you would please come and state 848 01:30:43,840 --> 01:30:48,280 your name, your address for the record, please. 849 01:30:49,760 --> 01:30:56,360 You may come this time. You have three minutes to do so. State your name, your 850 01:30:52,480 --> 01:30:56,360 address for the record, please. 851 01:31:12,960 --> 01:31:20,080 I'd like to thank the board of commissioners for this time. 852 01:31:16,719 --> 01:31:22,560 I'm here about stray cats and how the how areas 853 01:31:21,120 --> 01:31:25,120 » Can I get you to pull your mic down just so they can hear you? There you go. 854 01:31:23,760 --> 01:31:28,800 » Oh, I'm sorry. And your name if you don't mind. 855 01:31:26,239 --> 01:31:35,360 » Oh, my name's Claude Hartley. >> Okay. Uh, and I'd like to thank the 856 01:31:31,760 --> 01:31:40,080 board again. I'm here about stray cats and how areas in our county are overrun 857 01:31:38,239 --> 01:31:48,239 with cats. Last year, I captured 16 or more cats 858 01:31:45,280 --> 01:31:54,880 and have taken them to animal control. This year, I have captured 12 cats, 859 01:31:51,360 --> 01:32:00,560 making a total of 28 cats in this period of time. 860 01:31:57,360 --> 01:32:06,480 Monday, I took a cat to animal control. There was a notice posted on the front 861 01:32:02,639 --> 01:32:11,360 door stating they are not taking any more cats. 862 01:32:09,280 --> 01:32:17,000 They're full. This shows how bad the problem is in 863 01:32:13,760 --> 01:32:17,000 this county. 864 01:32:21,280 --> 01:32:31,120 Let me find my spot here. It's my understanding that Newton County control 865 01:32:27,360 --> 01:32:35,760 does not capture feral cats. What's a citizen to do? 866 01:32:33,679 --> 01:32:40,639 I know they are overwhelmed, but they are the only resource we have to this 867 01:32:38,480 --> 01:32:48,880 ongoing problem. I have a suggestion. It's called TNR. 868 01:32:44,960 --> 01:32:54,239 What this means is capture, spade, neuter. 869 01:32:51,520 --> 01:32:58,880 that prevents the cat from reproducing. 870 01:32:56,800 --> 01:33:05,360 Then you release the cat over a period of time. I think this would help. 871 01:33:02,239 --> 01:33:11,719 I have a number of counties that practice this and it seems to have some 872 01:33:08,719 --> 01:33:11,719 success. 873 01:33:12,159 --> 01:33:16,280 The counties that practice it, 874 01:33:17,040 --> 01:33:27,239 this is going to shock you. An unspayed female cat can become 875 01:33:22,960 --> 01:33:27,239 pregnant within four months 876 01:33:27,600 --> 01:33:39,360 and bear three litters a year, assuming at least one cat survives. 877 01:33:35,360 --> 01:33:43,679 This cycle can produce over 200 cats a year. 878 01:33:42,080 --> 01:33:49,040 Uh the thing is, now I'm going off script. 879 01:33:46,639 --> 01:33:54,080 The thing is that animal control, when you take a cat to 880 01:33:51,920 --> 01:34:02,320 them, their response is we're full. All this 881 01:33:57,679 --> 01:34:10,239 does is cause cats to reproduce in the area. And I'd like to see other methods 882 01:34:06,560 --> 01:34:14,719 like an ENR method looked into to maybe help with this. And thank you. 883 01:34:13,760 --> 01:34:19,400 » Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Anyone else? 884 01:34:25,199 --> 01:34:33,120 » No. So, we we'll get them we'll get in front of you. All right. Thank you. 885 01:34:30,560 --> 01:34:39,840 » Newton County Omega Newton County resident. The question is specifically 886 01:34:36,480 --> 01:34:43,920 aimed at you. Uh and the question is concerning the 887 01:34:42,000 --> 01:34:47,520 parliamentary procedures 888 01:34:45,440 --> 01:34:52,000 and what I need to get an understanding of [clears throat] is 889 01:34:50,080 --> 01:34:58,239 what is the uh overriding 890 01:34:55,040 --> 01:35:03,040 authority that rescended the governor's suspension. In other words, I'm not here 891 01:35:01,360 --> 01:35:08,719 to challenge. I'm here to get understanding or clarity because the 892 01:35:06,320 --> 01:35:13,920 back and forth was from my understanding 893 01:35:10,800 --> 01:35:20,639 that although you had five charges dismissed that you still have standing 894 01:35:17,840 --> 01:35:26,400 charges against you and and Governor Kemp has been very vocal and coming out 895 01:35:23,600 --> 01:35:30,719 in news organizations and media saying that the suspension and the executive 896 01:35:28,400 --> 01:35:36,560 order suspension and removal still stands. So, help me and the rest of the 897 01:35:33,040 --> 01:35:40,320 Newton County residents understand. Is there something that we missed or 898 01:35:38,080 --> 01:35:47,800 somebody that has more authority than the presiding governor that you have the 899 01:35:43,199 --> 01:35:47,800 power to override the suspension? 900 01:35:50,800 --> 01:35:57,120 You got a minute and 40 seconds, sir. >> Yeah. I'm asking you a question. 901 01:35:54,719 --> 01:36:00,080 » So, you can come up and speak. We don't speak back to you now. you can come up 902 01:35:58,560 --> 01:36:02,960 and talk to us after the meeting is over with, but you have a minute and 30 903 01:36:01,840 --> 01:36:04,400 seconds remaining. >> All right. 904 01:36:03,600 --> 01:36:13,600 » Thank you, sir. >> So, in in essence, what's what's going 905 01:36:08,719 --> 01:36:17,560 on is is that we need to understand that according to the OCGA45-5-6. 906 01:36:19,199 --> 01:36:31,120 is very explicit in that it explains pending the final disposition of their 907 01:36:26,960 --> 01:36:37,120 criminal cases or expiration of your term of office which neither one is 908 01:36:33,679 --> 01:36:44,800 happening like the term is still ongoing and there's no decision on part of the 909 01:36:40,639 --> 01:36:51,360 courts the judge the governor everybody is saying nope you still have these 910 01:36:47,440 --> 01:36:56,000 things going don't. So, it disturbs me because, you know, I don't really 911 01:36:54,400 --> 01:37:01,119 participate like this. I'm behind the scenes kind of 912 01:36:58,239 --> 01:37:07,119 guy. And when I start seeing things going sideways or going left, see, it 913 01:37:05,119 --> 01:37:12,719 puts me in the mind or it triggers me in a way where I'm I'm being challenged if 914 01:37:10,159 --> 01:37:17,520 if I'm stepping up and actually operating under my, you know, 915 01:37:15,199 --> 01:37:22,880 constitutional um 916 01:37:19,520 --> 01:37:28,000 what we might call duty. So, I'm coming straight up and saying that this would 917 01:37:25,040 --> 01:37:32,639 not be the end of this. So, I want to talk to you, brother Baines, and I want 918 01:37:29,440 --> 01:37:37,320 to find out what we can find out. >> Thank you, sir. Anyone else? 919 01:37:37,520 --> 01:37:42,440 » Please state your name, your address for the record, please. 920 01:37:45,119 --> 01:37:52,960 Hello everybody. Good evening. I want to ask the new county board of commission 921 01:37:50,000 --> 01:37:57,679 about the youth facility plan on 50 road. This project had been talked about 922 01:37:55,360 --> 01:38:04,239 for some time and the community deserve to know what's taking them so long. 923 01:38:01,280 --> 01:38:11,119 So, I have something else to say. My uncle had a seizure at 1:35 924 01:38:08,719 --> 01:38:18,159 p.m. and the fire department arrived at 925 01:38:15,040 --> 01:38:25,040 around 1 something. And not only that, the ambulance showed up at 2:05. That 926 01:38:21,600 --> 01:38:30,560 contract was signed on the EMT. That don't look too well because my uncle 927 01:38:26,639 --> 01:38:34,560 almost died from that. So, y'all didn't do a new contract cuz that don't look 928 01:38:32,080 --> 01:38:37,960 too good, y'all. Thank y'all. Thank you. Anyone else? 929 01:38:43,360 --> 01:38:48,280 Please state your name, your address for the record, please. 930 01:38:50,159 --> 01:38:55,280 Thank you once again. Thank you once again, commissioners. My name is 931 01:38:52,880 --> 01:38:59,119 Gladstone Nicholson. Live on the west side of town. 932 01:38:57,440 --> 01:39:04,960 And what couple things I have to say, but I'll say something almost impromptu. 933 01:39:01,840 --> 01:39:09,920 That young man who just came up here, if there are folks like him, I think we 934 01:39:06,960 --> 01:39:15,280 have a legacy already being built and we should make as strong as we can as a 935 01:39:11,760 --> 01:39:20,800 community. I like what he said. But why I came up here is to say thank 936 01:39:17,440 --> 01:39:26,000 you to the commissioner for district 5 who wanted who gave an emphatic answer 937 01:39:23,840 --> 01:39:33,280 to the question about that construction. I thank you much 938 01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:39,040 and um I in my brief moments uh I said we need to have a more balanced view of 939 01:39:36,159 --> 01:39:46,320 construction across the county. We have the east side, west side. We probably 940 01:39:41,920 --> 01:39:52,159 have maybe they might be newer and older Newton County, but I do believe there 941 01:39:49,520 --> 01:39:57,760 has been some differences in how uh development is 942 01:39:55,119 --> 01:40:03,440 handled. Perhaps it's because the new folks did not do not did not understand 943 01:40:00,320 --> 01:40:07,600 as well as older folks how this system here works. Not that it works badly, but 944 01:40:05,520 --> 01:40:13,280 the idea here is if you don't know a system, you're going to have some slack 945 01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:18,239 time where you might maybe come up on short end because of your learning curve 946 01:40:15,920 --> 01:40:24,239 being not being as sharp as it probably should be. So the idea here is for folks 947 01:40:20,639 --> 01:40:28,960 on west side in your side to understand that they have as much at stake in this 948 01:40:27,040 --> 01:40:34,880 county as the folks who have quote unquote all the land that's being 949 01:40:31,360 --> 01:40:38,800 hoarded for whatever is down the road. And I just want to say thank you all for 950 01:40:36,639 --> 01:40:44,560 what you're doing. Thank you commissioner. There are some new members 951 01:40:41,119 --> 01:40:49,040 on the board. Thank you all again. and maybe the future will be brighter than 952 01:40:46,480 --> 01:40:53,920 it's been for the past I don't know decade or so. Thank you all. 953 01:40:50,880 --> 01:40:59,440 » Thank you, sir. Anyone else? Commissioner Edwards. 954 01:40:56,960 --> 01:41:04,639 » Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, I want to start off by making sure everyone 955 01:41:02,159 --> 01:41:09,280 understands. Now, we we denied a project tonight that and and I voted against it, 956 01:41:07,440 --> 01:41:14,000 don't get me wrong, so I voted against it. But we've denied a project tonight 957 01:41:11,440 --> 01:41:19,520 that is allowed by right. And what I mean by that is the zoning existed 958 01:41:17,360 --> 01:41:24,159 for some type of residential development on that property. The time for us to 959 01:41:21,600 --> 01:41:27,840 yell and scream, include myself, is during the zoning hearings when we were 960 01:41:26,480 --> 01:41:33,199 trying to change the zoning on properties. That's the time to voice 961 01:41:30,239 --> 01:41:37,920 your opposition. Tonight we we heard the opposition to a final plat. 962 01:41:35,920 --> 01:41:43,600 And a final plat is just hey we're deciding on the configuration and we 963 01:41:40,000 --> 01:41:50,880 turn that down harder defending court. Uh the other thing I want to touch on is 964 01:41:47,520 --> 01:41:55,920 um you know this this thing of east and west has popped up again on the west on 965 01:41:54,080 --> 01:42:01,360 the east southeastern and the eastern side of the county we have no sewer. So 966 01:41:58,560 --> 01:42:06,639 the density the zoning density is not there not allowed. Um, I don't know why 967 01:42:04,560 --> 01:42:11,199 the sewers sewer started on the western side of the county 40 years ago. I have 968 01:42:08,719 --> 01:42:15,600 no idea. I wasn't probably didn't care then, but I mean I wasn't a commissioner 969 01:42:13,119 --> 01:42:19,360 for sure back then. So that's where the sewer the density follows the sewer. And 970 01:42:17,600 --> 01:42:24,960 keep in mind, and I'm talking about myself here, too. So we we we we voice 971 01:42:23,360 --> 01:42:28,480 our opinion in opposition, and I've stood right there and done it. We voice 972 01:42:26,880 --> 01:42:33,440 our opinion in opposition to developments when we all live in a 973 01:42:30,400 --> 01:42:39,199 development on one one way or the other. We all most of us live in a subdivision. 974 01:42:36,480 --> 01:42:45,600 So I have I have some acorage where I live and I remember people I zoned two 975 01:42:41,760 --> 01:42:49,360 acres of my of my my my acres. I zoned two of my house and I had people stand 976 01:42:47,920 --> 01:42:54,320 up in opposition against it because they just didn't want to see agricultural 977 01:42:51,440 --> 01:42:57,760 property go residential. So, I understand it. But we all live on 978 01:42:56,080 --> 01:43:05,760 property that one time was probably agricultural. And we and we uh we we we 979 01:43:02,960 --> 01:43:09,920 protest I do I do it as well. We protest our developments. And I don't want to 980 01:43:07,679 --> 01:43:13,760 and you've heard me say it 16,000 times sitting right here. If we never build 981 01:43:11,520 --> 01:43:20,960 another house in Newton County, it suits me just fine. I don't care what what 982 01:43:16,960 --> 01:43:24,480 zone uh what uh district is in. So, but that's not reality. But I just wanted to 983 01:43:22,960 --> 01:43:28,480 I just wanted to make that point that that that we all live on property that 984 01:43:26,719 --> 01:43:32,800 some somebody probably protested when they got ready to develop it sub 985 01:43:30,239 --> 01:43:38,719 especially subdivisions. So just want to get that off. Mr. Chairman, thank you. 986 01:43:35,119 --> 01:43:46,239 » Thank you, sir. Um Commissioner Mason, >> thank you, sir. Um Commissioner Cooper, 987 01:43:42,800 --> 01:43:50,080 » thank you, Chair. Um Commissioner, like I said, I heard what you're saying on 988 01:43:47,440 --> 01:43:53,440 that. Um but also uh I know you talked about the sewer 989 01:43:51,360 --> 01:43:58,239 accepted on that but maybe we need to look at developers or something u doing 990 01:43:56,000 --> 01:44:03,840 on the upside but we don't still at the same time we want to make sure that we 991 01:44:01,679 --> 01:44:09,440 um get uh what we want and what we deserve on 992 01:44:06,639 --> 01:44:14,080 the west side. So, uh maybe we can talk to developers and and and install the 993 01:44:12,639 --> 01:44:20,239 seal line or something, make it part of their scope or something, but we can't 994 01:44:16,719 --> 01:44:26,840 uh continue to uh put everything on on the west side. 995 01:44:22,800 --> 01:44:26,840 » Um Commissioner Henderson, 996 01:44:27,280 --> 01:44:35,119 » thank you. Thank you, Mr. C. I just want just want to say this and and I I say 997 01:44:32,800 --> 01:44:40,000 Stan, you hit it the nail right on the head. 998 01:44:36,639 --> 01:44:45,440 that that was somewhat a bad decision in what we done. Whereas if you would have 999 01:44:42,320 --> 01:44:50,639 had meetings, you could have maybe worked with the developer in order to 1000 01:44:48,800 --> 01:44:55,119 get maybe possibly less density or whatever you wanted to do. But by flat 1001 01:44:53,679 --> 01:45:00,639 out denying it, knowing that you had really had no real reason for denying 1002 01:44:57,840 --> 01:45:07,440 it, they go to court, get it approved, they build a subdivision. 1003 01:45:03,199 --> 01:45:10,400 You have no say in at all. And so only thing as the district 4 county 1004 01:45:08,719 --> 01:45:15,280 commissioner what I was saying was that I was trying to the best of my ability. 1005 01:45:13,119 --> 01:45:20,239 So I'm sitting up here longer than anyone up here. I understand kind of a 1006 01:45:18,719 --> 01:45:26,719 little bit how it kind of works. But that and it's fine. You learn by trial 1007 01:45:22,880 --> 01:45:32,800 and error. And so we we'll see what the end results will be uh as far as that 1008 01:45:30,000 --> 01:45:38,800 subdivision on down a pace and in all the other one over on Cal Road. It's 1009 01:45:35,679 --> 01:45:43,360 also is a subdivision that the judge rule against us and they wanted to build 1010 01:45:41,840 --> 01:45:48,239 it. So, we're denied again and eventually they'll probably build what 1011 01:45:45,679 --> 01:45:53,760 they want to build. And you can have all we have all those houses up there. 1012 01:45:51,360 --> 01:45:59,760 And I learned a long time ago if you can talk a little bit of sense into me like 1013 01:45:57,679 --> 01:46:03,199 my mama did, then I probably act a little bit better. I did when I was a 1014 01:46:00,800 --> 01:46:06,800 younger man. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Uh, Commissioner Long. 1015 01:46:04,800 --> 01:46:10,000 » Well, I disagree with them. >> I've been doing real estate for 30 1016 01:46:08,560 --> 01:46:13,760 years, and I'm gonna tell you something. We did not apply tonight. And I think 1017 01:46:12,239 --> 01:46:17,119 sometimes government gets a little brainwashed. 1018 01:46:15,360 --> 01:46:21,600 And I think that there are things that you can do and we've proved that several 1019 01:46:20,000 --> 01:46:26,239 times since I've been on this board for 18 months that we have one against 1020 01:46:24,080 --> 01:46:30,320 developers that take us to court. You have to have that can do. We're not 1021 01:46:28,239 --> 01:46:34,159 going to take it attitude. And you have to say when we deny a plat, and I didn't 1022 01:46:32,560 --> 01:46:39,119 give all the reasons why we deny this plaque, but we can deny what they are 1023 01:46:36,239 --> 01:46:43,280 presenting anytime we want to. Now, can they come back? Yes. And we can sit down 1024 01:46:41,440 --> 01:46:49,280 with them and have that discussion and we can say and put all these conditions 1025 01:46:46,400 --> 01:46:53,119 in there. Okay, we don't have to have 310 homes. We can put all the conditions 1026 01:46:51,440 --> 01:46:57,679 in there. They are using what we have as a loophole right now where they're using 1027 01:46:55,199 --> 01:47:02,400 two types of zoning on top of each other. Okay. So, we do have rights as 1028 01:47:00,719 --> 01:47:04,960 citizens in this county. And I get so tired of hearing, oh, we can't do 1029 01:47:03,520 --> 01:47:07,920 anything. We're going to get sued. I don't care. 1030 01:47:05,520 --> 01:47:11,199 » Well, who's making money? So let's get >> you making money guys. 1031 01:47:09,440 --> 01:47:15,520 » I do not talk over you. >> So we can Well, you know what? That's 1032 01:47:13,199 --> 01:47:20,000 kind of contradictory then, you know, >> but I want good developments in this 1033 01:47:17,199 --> 01:47:23,280 county. I want to make sure that we take our time because they can come in here 1034 01:47:21,600 --> 01:47:27,520 and give us a dog and pony show every time they want to. But do they ever turn 1035 01:47:25,920 --> 01:47:30,800 out like these pictures? >> No. 1036 01:47:28,000 --> 01:47:33,760 » No, they do not. So I am willing to take that chance and if they want to come 1037 01:47:32,159 --> 01:47:37,440 meet with me, they come meet with me. I'll tell them what we can do better 1038 01:47:35,840 --> 01:47:42,480 because I realize that if there's a will, there is a way and that's just how 1039 01:47:40,000 --> 01:47:48,080 I do things and it's different. It's a different mindset. I might be wrong, but 1040 01:47:45,360 --> 01:47:51,760 I'm willing to take that chance. That's all I want to say about that. And um you 1041 01:47:50,320 --> 01:47:55,440 know, sometimes you just have to kick the can down the road a little bit. 1042 01:47:54,239 --> 01:48:01,280 Thank you. >> Thank you. There is a need for executive 1043 01:47:57,199 --> 01:48:05,840 session tonight. Um personnel and u potential litigation. I seek a motion 1044 01:48:03,600 --> 01:48:09,920 that we move into executive session. It's been there a second. It's been 1045 01:48:08,480 --> 01:48:15,480 motioned by Commissioner Henderson and second by Commissioner Edwards. Any 1046 01:48:11,520 --> 01:48:15,480 discussion? We 1047 02:29:22,800 --> 02:29:32,240 We are now back in regular session. Do I have a motion to 1048 02:29:29,120 --> 02:29:38,359 » to adjourn? All those all those in favor we are 1049 02:29:35,359 --> 02:29:38,359 journed.