The Walker County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 considered several planning and zoning matters that drew public comment and divided the board.

Paul Lemming sought permission to deed 2.96 acres from his family farm to his niece. Lemming said the land is in an agricultural program and he wanted to retain 10 acres in production while giving 2.96 acres to his niece so she could return to the community. Lemming told the board he keeps hay and livestock on the property and that his family has farmed the land for generations.

Commissioner Jack Hart opposed the request, saying the county’s 5-acre agricultural guidance exists to protect the agricultural footprint and warning that repeated small deed-offs erode farmland over time. Hart cited a separate avenue—deeding five acres or pursuing conservation-use valuation mechanisms—to achieve the family’s objective while preserving agricultural classification. Commissioners Robert Blakemore and (Commissioner) Wilson moved and seconded a motion to approve, but the chair ruled that three affirmative votes were required and the motion ultimately failed for lack of the required number of positive votes.

Public comment included extended remarks from Philip White, who said he lives adjacent to one of the parcels in a nearby area and opposed additional residential development because of livestock operations, gate access, and safety concerns from increased traffic.

Separately, the board approved a variance for Donald Crouch at 733 Huffman Road to build a dwelling smaller than the county’s 500-square-foot ordinance threshold (the county classifies such structures as tiny homes). Planning and zoning recommended approval; commissioners said the proposed structure would meet setback and other code requirements.

A set of rezoning requests filed by (April) Morgan for four parcels (tax map/parcel numbers 0-568-002F, 0-568-002G, 0-568-002B and 0-568-002J) was denied after commissioners said partial sales already existed on the larger tract and neighbors had purchased land under A-1 (agriculture) expectations; one commissioner said approving the rezone would place higher-density R-3 lots adjacent to owners who purchased A-1 parcels. The planning commission had recommended approval, but the board voted to deny.

The board approved a rezoning filed by George and Bertha Bruning to change the property at 3551 Chattanooga Valley Road (tax map/parcel 0-050-083) from split zoning of C-1/R-2 to full C-1 commercial. Purchaser Chris Hicks of Smith Millwork told the board the site will be used for distribution operations, keeping wetlands and creeks intact, and that an existing commercial building would be renovated and set back from the roadway.

The board and staff noted flood concerns at the Bruning site in Flintstone and discussed retaining wetlands and floodway setbacks as part of the redevelopment.

The commissioners’ votes reflect a mix of deference to the planning commission recommendations and an expressed desire by some members to preserve agricultural land and respect owners’ previous investments in A-1 acreage.