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Planning commission allows mechanical contractor at 3347 Crest Highway, overturns zoning administrator denial
Summary
The Upson County Planning Commission on June 9 sustained an appeal and reversed a zoning administrator’s denial, allowing issuance of an occupational tax certificate for a mechanical contracting operation at 3347 Crest Highway (Air Tech building). The property owner withdrew a pending rezoning request after the commission’s decision.
At the Upson County Planning Commission’s June 9 meeting, commissioners sustained an appeal of a zoning administrator’s decision and cleared the way for a mechanical contracting business to occupy 3347 Crest Highway, a property historically used by Air Tech Heating and Cooling.
Thomas Pollard, the property owner, said he has operated an HVAC business at the site for 24 years and described the prospective tenant’s operations as small and non‑disruptive. "I've used that business, that property for 24 years," Pollard said, recounting the site’s long history of commercial use.
Why it matters: The commission’s decision modifies how the county will interpret certain service and fabrication activities under existing C‑2 zoning and avoids an immediate rezoning application. Staff had denied the tenant an occupational tax certificate on the grounds that the proposed activity is an industrial use more appropriate to M‑1 or M‑2 zoning.
Staff member Doug told commissioners the zoning administrator denied the certificate because, based on materials submitted by the prospective tenant, the operation read as industrial. "Based on his description and the paperwork they provided...this is an industrial use," Doug said, noting that machine shops are listed as permitted uses in M‑1 zoning.
The prospective tenant, Mr. Helms, described the business as a small, project‑oriented mechanical contracting and design firm that would perform in‑house fabrication of one‑off parts as needed. He said about half the work would be manufacturing one‑off parts and that the shop would run typical business hours on a five‑day schedule. "Approximately 50% of the operations would be manufacturing some one‑off parts or just a small project‑oriented section of parts," Helms said.
Staff had recommended upholding the denial under C‑2, explaining that C‑2 is intended for consumer retail and services sold to the general public, while the tenant’s client base was described as industrial and commercial businesses. Commissioners weighed the difference between prior HVAC work at the site — which included fabrication of ductwork and plenums — and the machining and fabrication described by the tenant. Some commissioners concluded the proposed operation was consistent in scale and impact with the prior, long‑standing use.
After discussion a commissioner moved to sustain the appeal and allow the occupation; the motion passed. Following the vote, Pollard said he would withdraw his pending rezoning application to M‑1. "Yes, sir. I would withdraw," Pollard said when asked whether he would drop the rezoning request.
Next steps: With the appeal sustained, staff may proceed with issuing the occupational tax certificate under the county’s administrative process. The property owner withdrew the rezoning application that would have sought to reclassify the parcel to light industrial zoning.
