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Franklin County commissioners reject rezoning for 146-acre Blue Creek parcel after public opposition
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Summary
A rezoning request to convert a 146‑acre parcel on Blue Creek Road and Highway 130 to single‑family residential (R‑1) failed after a 7‑9 roll call. Planning staff and the regional planning commission had recommended approval, while multiple neighbors voiced concerns about traffic, livestock safety and utility lines.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted down a rezoning petition for a roughly 146‑acre parcel at Blue Creek Road and Highway 130 on Sept. 18, 2023.
Planner Eric Bradford and planning staff presented a written report recommending the parcel be rezoned from A, R‑2 and C to R‑1 to unify zoning and permit single‑family subdivision development. The Franklin County Regional Planning Commission had forwarded a recommendation in favor of rezoning after a July 25, 2023 hearing.
At the county commission hearing, several nearby residents spoke in opposition. Angi(e) Fuller told the board she worried rezoning would threaten livestock safety, raise traffic concerns on Highway 130 and affect a natural gas line on or near the property. Tina Rose and Marie Guillams also spoke against the request. Planning staff responded that many site‑level technical issues (access, water lines, septic, and safety conditions around utilities) are typically addressed during the plat and preliminary/final review process rather than at rezoning.
Commissioner David Eldridge moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner Grant Benere seconded. The board then took a roll‑call vote: the motion received seven yes votes and nine no votes and therefore failed. The clerk's roll‑call record shows the following vote: yes — William Anderson Jr., Jarad Shetters, David Eldridge Jr., Grant Benere, Glenn T. Summers, David Kelley, Bruce McMillan; no — Charles Keller, Carolyn Wiseman, Scottie Riddle, Dale Schultz, Tyler Bauer, Johnny Hand, Monica Baxter Jeffers, Lydia Curtis Johnson, Spike Hosch.
The case record supplied to the commission notes the site fronts Blue Creek Road (a county road) and Highway 130 (a state highway), has access to a six‑inch water line on both roads, and lies within the Franklin County Planned Growth Area. Staff recommended approval, citing compatibility with surrounding R‑1 zoning in parts of the combined parcel and the county growth plan's policies. After the failed motion the board took up other agenda business.
Because the commission denied the rezoning application, any future subdivision or development on the parcel would require either a new application or other approvals consistent with the existing zoning. Planning staff said technical questions raised by neighbors' concerns (including utility crossings and traffic impacts) would be examined in any subsequent plat or permitting process.