Planning commission recommends denial of rezoning request for Highway 139 parcels

The Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of a request to rezone two parcels on Highway 139 from A‑1 (agricultural) to C‑2 (general commercial). The request, submitted by Freddie Brasfield, sought rezoning to allow commercial storage of boats and watercraft.

Commissioners said the parcels sit in a predominantly residential and agricultural area with no nearby commercial district and that rezoning to C‑2 would allow many uses they viewed as incompatible in an isolated location. “When you rezone property, you don’t look at a use that you’re proposing,” planning staff told the commission, noting that rezoning would make every use permitted in C‑2 allowable on the site.

The applicant told the commission the intent was to provide gravel boat-and-vehicle storage near the Shady Grove boat launch so residents would have a place to store watercraft close to the ramp. Commissioners and staff raised concerns that the site lacks the traffic, utility services and nearby commercial nodes that typically support C‑2 district uses.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to deny the rezoning request “based on the lack of commercial entities in the surrounding area and the broad amount of residential structures located adjacent to the property.” The motion carried. Commission members emphasized that the planning commission’s vote is a recommendation; the County Commission makes the final decision and may accept or overturn the recommendation.

The commission’s staff and several members urged applicants to consider zoning options consistent with surrounding uses or to bring a zoning amendment that would create a commercial node with supporting services rather than rezoning an isolated lot. The applicants were informed the denial will be forwarded to the County Commission as the planning commission’s recommendation.