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Jones County denies rezoning for auto repair, approves three variances to allow homes on substandard private roads
Summary
The county denied a rezoning request for a proposed full-service auto repair on Shady Road Plaza after the applicant missed hearings, and approved three variances allowing new home lots for applicants Jacoby Jones, Jeffrey Wiggins and Todd Tibbetts despite neighbor concerns.
At the county—oard ec. 2 meeting planning staff presented a rezoning application from Derek Davis to change 1.34 acres at the corner of Shady Road Plaza and Joy Cliff Road from R-1 to C-2 to accommodate a full-service automobile repair and maintenance facility. Staff noted the planning commission recommended denial after the item was tabled multiple times and the applicant had not attended prior hearings. With no applicant present, a commissioner moved to deny the rezoning and the board voted to deny the request.
Separately, the board considered three variance requests to allow additional lots on substandard private roads. Applicant Jacoby Jones said he and family members want to build a house and asked that a private road be approved for two additional lots at 162 Firetower Road; the board approved the variance after a short discussion and a motion to approve carried.
Jeffrey Wiggins asked to split a 187-acre parcel and deed five-acre lots to family members to build homes; commissioners who inspected the property described it as well kept and a motion to approve the variance carried.
Todd Tibbetts sought to separate 3 acres from 18.71 acres at 181 Thomas Road for a home. Neighbor William Bolton opposed, arguing the four statutory variance criteria (extraordinary conditions, unnecessary hardship, peculiar conditions, and no detriment to the public good) were not met and warning that granting an exception would set a precedent and increase traffic and noise on the private road. Bolton told the board he had owned his property since 1999 and valued "peace and quiet," and he said the application materials did not meet the board's standards. County counsel and commissioners debated whether the four criteria were conjunctive or evaluative standards; after discussion the board approved Tibbetts's variance.
The meeting record shows the board handled these land-use decisions as discrete items: the Davis rezoning was denied in the applicant's absence; the three variances for home construction were approved following applicant presentations and board motions. Several approvals included brief public comments in support or opposition; where opposition raised legal or precedent concerns the board discussed statutory interpretation before voting.
