Coffee County planning commission approves 39-lot Old Airport Road subdivision after hours of public opposition

The Coffee County Planning Commission voted Jan. 28 to approve a preliminary plat for a 39-lot subdivision on Old Airport Road after more than an hour of public comment opposing the project.

Nicholas Northcutt, of Northcutt Surveying, told the commission he was hired by the property owner, identified in the application as Mr. Graham, to survey and prepare the plat. Northcutt said the applicant has completed topographic, soil and initial traffic studies and had worked with the codes department to address preliminary items.

The vote follows public remarks from nearby residents and farmers who urged denial or additional study. Quinn Sullivan said the parcel contains an unmarked cemetery and told the commission, “by state law, you cannot sell that property,” adding that she does not see markings “of that cemetery.” Terry Floyd, who said he works for Coffee County Codes but was speaking as a resident, warned that the proposal would open the A1 agricultural district to more development and read the county’s A1 zoning intent aloud for the record. Farmer Sean Jones and several other residents described narrow roads and small bridges on Old Airport and nearby rural routes, saying those conditions make adding scores of new homes unsafe. Jones said the road is “18 foot” and that the area sees large farm equipment during harvest.

“The existing line does not meet fire…