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Paulding planning commission recommends denial of rezoning for 6.104-acre Laird Road site
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 4‑0‑1 to recommend denial of application 202507Z, which sought to rezone 6.104 acres at 725 Laird Road from R‑2 suburban residential to I‑1 industrial for heavy‑equipment-related uses; the applicant described repair and refurbishment of forklifts and possible future rentals.
The Paulding County Planning Commission voted 4‑0‑1 on April 22 to recommend denial of application 202507Z, a request by James Aldridge to rezone 6.104 acres at the southeast intersection of Laird Road and Bill Creek Parkway (part of the property addressed as 725 Laird Road, Land Lots 967 and 968) from R‑2 Suburban Residential to I‑1 Light Industrial for proposed heavy‑equipment operations.
Staff recommended denial of the rezoning and advised commissioners the Planning and Zoning Division had received no substantive calls in support; the applicant and a site engineer spoke in favor of the request. The planning commission’s vote was a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, which will consider the matter at its May 13 meeting at 2 p.m.
The applicant’s representative, Will Suggin of Lead Engineering, described the plan to rezone the parcel to I‑1 to allow equipment rental and service uses, noting two existing curb openings that could serve as entrances. Property owner James Oliver (signed in as “Jim”) told the commission the primary present use would be repair and refurbishment of used forklifts and similar equipment, with possible rental dependent on insurance and liability considerations. Oliver said existing machines on site include forklifts and an excavator, and that the largest current machine would lift about 20,000 pounds. He said he expects to employ four people at opening with the possibility of growing to about 25 in the longer term.
Commissioners questioned whether the proposed operations would include on‑site repairs, wash stations, blasting or painting; Oliver said refurbishing would include some painting and sandblasting. Staff noted some prior zoning and ordinance compliance citations on the property and reminded commissioners that approval to I‑1 would permit any use allowed in the I‑1 district unless the commission adopted a limiting stipulation.
Motion to deny the rezoning was made by Commissioner Aston and seconded by Commissioner Fitzgerald. The planning commission recorded the recommendation as denial, 4‑0‑1. Commissioners and staff reminded the applicant he must appear before the Board of Commissioners on May 13 for the final decision.
The commission’s action is advisory; the Board of Commissioners holds final authority on zoning changes and may approve, modify, or deny the request when it meets.
