Henderson seeks approval to rezone 52 acres for metal fabrication facility

The Walton County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 1, 2025, focused on a significant rezoning request for a 52.57-acre property located at the intersection of Highway 20 and Center Hill Church Road. The applicant, Henderson, seeks to rezone the land from a residential classification to M1, which would allow for the establishment of a fabricated metal product manufacturing facility, specifically a welding shop.

During the meeting, Tip Nguyen from Alcuby Consulting Engineering presented the proposal, emphasizing that the site is currently designated for highway corridor use in the county's future land use plan. The proposed facility is expected to operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with occasional Saturday operations, and will employ approximately 20 workers, with potential for future expansion.

Concerns were raised by local residents regarding noise and traffic associated with the new facility. Nguyen assured the board that most operations would be conducted indoors, minimizing noise pollution, and that the facility would have limited outdoor activity. The plan includes a truck entrance on Center Hill Church Road, with an estimated five trucks visiting the site daily for deliveries.

The board opened the floor for public comments, but no residents spoke in opposition to the rezoning request. After deliberation, the board unanimously approved the rezoning, aligning with the recommendations from the planning commission.

In addition to the main topic, the meeting briefly addressed another rezoning request for a residential subdivision on Double Springs Road, which received no opposition and was also recommended for approval by the planning commission.

The decisions made during this meeting are expected to facilitate economic development in Walton County while addressing community concerns about noise and traffic. The board's approval marks a step forward for the proposed manufacturing facility, which aims to utilize the land effectively given its current limitations for residential development.