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Commission approves rezoning for Shepherd business driveway and storage with conditions after resident concerns
Summary
The planning commission approved rezonings Oct. 28 to allow a commercial driveway and expanded storage for John Shepherd’s business, but attached conditions to limit impacts on neighbors and protect the county road.
The Spalding County Planning Commission Oct. 28 approved two related rezoning petitions by John Shepherd that would enable a commercial driveway to access his business from 120 Airport Road and rezone two Oak Avenue parcels to expand storage for the same business, subject to multiple conditions.
Shepherd told the commission he purchased the Airport Road parcel to create an alternative commercial access after repeated incidents of large trucks contacting overhead utility wires at his Zebulon Road frontage. "I need to be able to come in from that side to bring in equipment, materials, and other items for my business," Shepherd said.
Neighbors — represented at the hearing by Brian Adams and Angel Adams — expressed concern about safety and increased commercial traffic on Airport Road, noting narrow lanes and elderly residents who live adjacent to the parcels. Brian Adams said he had driven commercial vehicles for decades and worried that the proposed truck turning movements would create hazards.
Staff recommended conditions if the commission approved the applications: the Airport Road lot may be used solely as an entrance and exit serving the parent business on Zebulon Road; no storage or parking of materials may take place on that lot; a 25‑foot yard buffer should be maintained from adjacent residential parcels; and any stream crossing would need appropriate piping and regulatory review. Commissioners also required paved entries with acceleration/deceleration (ACC/DEC) lanes where necessary and that the Oak Avenue rezoning be limited to Shepherd’s storage use only.
A motion to deny the Airport Road rezoning failed for lack of a second; commissioners ultimately approved the rezoning with stipulations and approved the Oak Avenue rezonings with an explicit condition that the PDD designation be restricted to Shepherd’s storage use. Staff said both items will proceed to the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 20 for final action.
What’s next: The cases will be on the county commission agenda Nov. 20. Staff recommended Shepherd update plans (driveway design, buffering, and any proposed stream crossing) before that meeting.
