Commission recommends approval of Smallridge request to rezone 30 acres; one commissioner opposed

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a small-scale future land-use amendment and companion rezoning for approximately 30.21 acres owned by Gary Smallridge, reversing staff’s initial recommendation of denial. The two companion items considered were a small scale amendment (25SO6) and a rezoning request to change zoning from General Agriculture A-1 to Light Industrial M-1 (250406ZC).

Staff (Kenneth Odom) explained the county’s concerns: the parcels are outside the urban growth boundary, water and sewer are not available immediately onsite, nearby residential subdivisions lie within a few hundred feet, and historically there are some industrial parcels in the corridor from earlier development in the 1980s. Staff cited transportation capacity and the risk of spot zoning in a largely rural corridor as the reason for recommending denial.

Applicant representatives argued the corridor has evolved, that the parcels border older commercial/industrial lots, and that the owners plan modest, locally oriented industrial uses (for example, a small family welding shop and storage uses) rather than a high-intensity employment center. The applicant said the land has been family-owned for generations and that limited industrial development would help the owners keep the property in the family.

Several commissioners questioned infrastructure capacity and traffic; the developer said future site plans would be required and any development would need to meet traffic and utility requirements. After debate, the commission first failed to adopt staff’s denial recommendation (a motion to deny lacked a second). A subsequent motion to recommend approval of the small-scale land-use amendment carried with one commissioner opposed. The companion rezoning to M-1 was also recommended for approval by the commission with one opposed vote. The recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.

Speakers in favor included the property owner Gary Smallridge and the applicant’s agent (Bridal Abbord of R & B Realty). No speakers signed up in opposition at the hearing; staff and commissioners urged the applicant to work out details and emphasized that final development will require site plans, traffic studies and utility assurances at later steps.