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Planning commission recommends denial of B-3 rezoning after neighbors allege vehicle storage and unpermitted activity
Summary
The commission recommended denial of a rezoning request for 1350 Mountain Creek Church Road to B-3 for outside vehicle storage and auto repair after neighbors and staff described ongoing vehicle accumulation, a court enforcement history and concerns about business activity on a residential parcel.
The Walton County Planning Commission recommended denial of an application to rezone 2.64 acres at 1350 Mountain Creek Church Road from A-1/suburban to B-3 (employment center) to allow outside vehicle storage and automotive repair. The item will be forwarded to the Walton County Board of Commissioners for final action.
The applicant who spoke identified herself as Melody Moe and said she was seeking a rezone to allow her husband to store and work on cars as a hobby. "We just wanna be able to be where he can have his cars and that sort of thing outside," she said. During questioning, she acknowledged some work would be transactional and that other people sometimes pay her husband for repairs.
Neighbors opposed the rezoning at the public hearing. Marie Rich, who lives three doors down at 1374 Mountain Creek Church Road, said she counted roughly 20 to 25 vehicles on the property and described the parcel as resembling "a junkyard." An anonymous email dated July 8, submitted to the planning office and read into the record, described similar concerns: frequent vehicle traffic, trailers and trucks, and the appearance of commercial use on a residentially zoned parcel.
Planning staff told the commission the rezoning request arose from an active court enforcement case in which the owner had been notified of improper use of the property as a storage lot with auto repair in an A-1 zone. Staff advised that, if the commission approved the rezoning, the applicant would be required to submit a site plan showing buffers, delineated storage areas and a commercial driveway; if the commission denied the request the owner would be required to cease the use and remove vehicles.
After discussion and public comment, Commissioner Josh moved to recommend denial; the motion carried and the item will be considered by the Board of Commissioners next month.
The planning commission record includes the public complaints and staff’s enforcement background; the Board of Commissioners will make the final determination on the zoning change.
