Commissioners deny Mora Road rezoning after neighbors raise septic and lot-size concerns

The Coffee County Board of Commissioners on April 4, 2022, denied a rezoning request by Stephen Wheeler to change 0.59 acres at 1941 Mora Road from Agriculture to R3-Residential to place a mobile home.

Applicant Stephen Wheeler told the board he believed the lot was buildable based on information from the person he bought the property from and said he only learned of the zoning issue when he sought a permit. Neighbors Danny Dees and Jack Cliett spoke in opposition during the public hearing, voicing concerns that approving ½-acre residential lots in the area could create future problems and that the lot’s well and septic situation may not meet health-department standards.

Code Enforcement Director Jason Whiddon read portions of the Planning staff report and noted the Planning Commission met on February 17, 2022 and recommended denial; staff concurred. Commissioner Johnny Wayne Jowers moved to deny the rezoning, citing the Planning Commission, the staff recommendation and likely failure to meet health-department requirements; Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The denial means the property remains zoned Agriculture; the applicant was informed of the decision at the meeting. No amendment, variance or alternative remedy was recorded in the transcript.