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Owner of Short Creek Homes asks Coffee County planning commission for variance after five-acre moratorium halted plans
Summary
Short Creek Homes owner told the planning commission she spent about $410,000 preparing two adjoining properties for subdivision and construction of single-family homes but that a recently adopted five-acre moratorium prevented proceeding; she asked the commission for a variance or more information.
Robin Smothermon, owner of Short Creek Homes, told the Coffee County Planning Commission on May 27, 2025, that she and her husband purchased two adjoining properties at 10266 and 10268 (corner of Ragsdale and Sainville) in April and had planned to renovate an existing modular home, demolish a dilapidated house, and subdivide the parcels to build five single-family homes.
Smothermon said the plan called for three homes on one parcel of about 6 acres and two homes on an adjacent parcel of about 3 acres, with each resulting home sited on lots of more than an acre. She told commissioners she had engaged a land surveyor and soil scientists, identified perk sites and lot stakes, and had spent “a little over $410,000” preparing the property when she learned the commission’s moratorium and new five-acre rule might prevent the subdivision.
Commission members and staff discussed the timing of the moratorium. The chair said the moratorium discussion began in March and that a five-acre threshold was adopted at the last full commission meeting; commissioners indicated they expect to consider possible variances or further subdivision rules in the future but had not acted on an application in Smothermon’s case at the May 27 meeting.
Smothermon asked for information and a variance or guidance so she could proceed with permits; commission members encouraged patience while staff and the full commission work through potential variances and related rule changes. No formal variance was applied for or decided at the meeting.
