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Board approves rezoning and CUP for Peach State Construction office, with buffering and traffic study conditions
Summary
The board approved REZ24-000012 and CUP25-00001 to rezone 16.5 acres on Piper Road from agricultural-residential to general commercial to allow an office with fleet parking, subject to a traffic study, transitional buffers and limits on outside storage.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved a rezoning (REZ24-000012) and companion conditional-use permit (CUP25-00001) to allow an office and fleet parking for Peach State Construction on 16.5 acres along Piper Road.
Staff said the property’s future land use had already been amended to commercial and that planning and the commission had reviewed a site plan showing a proposed office, shop, and outside storage yard. The planning commission required a traffic study prior to issuance of permits; staff recommended conditions including 55-foot transitional fencing adjacent to residential properties, a 75-foot buffer around remaining property edges, and a limit of 25% of the lot for outdoor storage.
Tom Garrett, representing applicant Rusty Andrews of Peach State Construction, told the board the company is a long-time local contractor seeking a permanent site for office, shop and occasional equipment storage. Garrett said much of Peach State’s equipment is routinely deployed to jobs across the state and that the on-site yard would be fenced and screened.
Commissioners added a condition requested during discussion requiring an opaque screen or fence behind the office building so that equipment and storage are not visible from Piper Road. Commissioner Long moved to approve the rezoning and to include the additional screening condition; the motion carried with one commissioner abstaining for a possible conflict of interest.
Why it matters: The decision supports an incumbent local contractor’s move to a permanent yard while adding explicit buffering and traffic-study requirements to limit impacts on adjacent residences and on Piper Road, which commissioners said will require additional review for access and turning movements.
What’s next: The applicant must complete a traffic-study submission to Development Services and obtain building and environmental permits; staff and the county transportation department will review ingress/egress and buffering before business license issuance.
