Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Conditional Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gordon County approves conditional-use permit for Fairmount event venue after fire-safety and water concerns
Summary
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional-use permit to allow a private event venue at 905 Garber Mill Road SE in Fairmount, but commissioners and staff stressed the applicants must meet state fire-marshal and permitting requirements and address water access and septic questions before operating fully.
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a conditional-use permit (CUZ2025-01) for an event venue at 905 Garber Mill Road SE in Fairmount, after applicants and county staff discussed fire-safety, water access and permitting requirements.
The permit was approved after a public hearing and a roll-call vote; the planning staff had recommended tabling the application until proof of compliance could be obtained, but the board approved the request following the applicants’ explanation and additional clarifications from staff.
The applicants, Tanya Reynolds, who identified herself as the property owner, and her husband, Adam Reynolds, told commissioners they intend to host a small number of weddings and family events “throughout the year to pay our property tax.” Tanya Reynolds said she and her family do not intend to grow the business large and suggested an occupancy target “maybe a hundred and 75.” She also described the main building as roughly 50 feet by 72 feet and noted the property includes about 48 acres around the house.
Planning staff and county commissioners discussed several outstanding regulatory issues. Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted that building occupancy and fire-protection requirements fall under the jurisdiction of the Georgia State Fire Marshal, not the county, and that meeting state fire-marshal rules (including any sprinkler requirements) could hinge on water availability. A county speaker said, if the state requires sprinklers and there is “no water out there to provide sprinklers, then that's gonna be a problem” for the applicants’ ability to operate as a commercial venue.
The applicants said they had engaged an architect/engineer and were seeking professional design guidance before investing further. Tanya Reynolds said health-department permitting questions noted in the application had been resolved. She told the board the property currently uses a well and that a county representative had previously estimated extending city water to the site would cost about $600,000.
Commissioners also asked about neighbors and noise. The applicants said the nearest neighbors include Deborah Ingram and Donald Bowling and that they had discussed the use with adjacent property owners, reporting no outstanding opposition at the time of the hearing.
After the hearing, Vice Chair Cunningham moved to approve CUZ2025-01; the motion was seconded and carried on a recorded vote.
The board and staff emphasized that approval of the conditional use does not waive state or county permitting requirements. The applicants must still secure any required approvals from the Georgia State Fire Marshal and meet county business-license and health-permitting rules before operating the venue.
The board did not attach conditions in the meeting minutes beyond the normal permitting process; commissioners said they expect staff to verify compliance with state and county regulations before full operation.
