Commission rejects rezoning request for Prospect Road diesel shop after public debate

Lincoln County commissioners on Oct. 21 rejected a request to rezone a 2.97-acre portion of a Prospect Road parcel from A‑1 Agricultural to C‑1 General Commercial (file 2025‑R6), following public comment and debate. The final roll-call vote was 15 no, 8 yes and one abstention.

The request, made by property owner Mike Holt, seeks commercial zoning to allow diesel repair and related commercial activity at a site that county staff and the planning commission judged to be on a county road rather than a principal thoroughfare. Tracy Perkins, Lincoln County planner, told the commission the planning commission did not recommend rezoning because the county’s zoning resolution (Section 4.044) requires general commercial uses to front a principal thoroughfare; the parcel is about 2.6 miles from the county’s principal thoroughfare, Huntsville Highway, and roughly 2.78 miles from the nearest fire station.

The issue drew three public speakers. Jeff Brandon, a member of the public who spoke in favor of rezoning, said the property has operated with commercial and industrial uses for decades and…