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Commerce property owner seeks conditional use, parking variance for biweekly livestock auctions
Summary
An applicant asked the Madison County Planning Commission for a conditional use permit and a variance to run biweekly livestock auctions at 315 Neese Commerce Road; staff and commissioners raised questions about hours, parking surface, traffic and noise.
Zach Hightower, representing Northeast Georgia Outdoors LLC, asked the Madison County Planning Commission to approve a conditional use permit and a variance to operate a livestock auction barn at 315 Neese Commerce Road in Commerce.
Hightower’s application seeks permission to hold auctions every other Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and a variance from paved parking and perimeter landscaping requirements; the applicant told the commission he plans about 50 gravel parking spaces though the ordinance requires 15 paved spaces with wheel stops.
The county planning staff reported the 3.53-acre parcel is in the Madaco West character area, and that the requested auction use is inconsistent with the area’s character designation even though the current local pattern includes residential and agricultural uses. Staff noted the county ordinance limits auction hours — “it can’t go past 10,” — and that the requested use triggers a conditional use review.
Commissioners and other participants asked for more detail on expected attendance, animal drop-off and holding practices, and vehicle access. One commissioner said, “I guess my only opposition would be to make sure that people aren’t parking up and down the road,” and asked staff to confirm how large vehicles such as gooseneck trailers would enter and exit. Staff and other participants said the applicant has constructed a shed with small holding pens but does not plan to keep animals on site except for auction days.
Because the applicant proposes gravel rather than paved parking, staff characterized this as a variance issue tied to the landscaping and parking standards. Commissioners asked staff to obtain more specific operational details (drop-off hours and holding arrangements) and to confirm whether on-street parking could be enforced or whether a condition limiting remote parking would be needed.
No formal vote or motion on the auction application was recorded in the provided transcript. The commission’s discussion centered on traffic control, noise and whether conditions related to parking surface, ingress/egress and animal handling should be required if the conditional use is approved.
The commission planned to continue review of the application at the public hearing stage once additional operational details are provided.
