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Gordon County rejects rezoning for Highway 53 Spur site proposed for Dollar General
Summary
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to deny a rezoning request (RZ-2026-005) that would have allowed a Dollar General on a parcel along Highway 53 Spur after neighbors raised safety, property-value and environmental concerns; the applicant pointed to a 15-year lease option but could not locate a cited Clemson study.
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on March 17 to deny a rezoning application (RZ-2026-005) that would have changed a parcel on Highway 53 Spur in Calhoun from Suburban Density Residential (R-3) to Highway Commercial (C-H), an outcome that blocks a proposed Dollar General at the site.
Mark Momon, the applicant, described the plan for the property and said the proposed store would be covered by "a fifteen-year lease with a five-year option." Neighbors opposed the change: Brittany Smith raised concerns about safety and property values; Troy Smith cited environmental concerns and questioned the need for another Dollar General in the vicinity; Tammy Thomas said she feared the site could attract people camping behind the property.
Mr. Momon responded during rebuttal that a Clemson study mentioned by opponents could not be located by him and that the parcel aligns with the county’s future growth map. County Administrator Jim Ledbetter and Zoning Administrator Tony Ross reminded the commission that a prior, related application had been denied more than a year earlier and reviewed departmental comments; Ledbetter read county departmental reviews and noted Calhoun Utilities had reported no sewer availability for the site.
Commissioner Randy Abernathy moved to approve the rezoning, seconded by Vice-Chair Kevin Cunningham; the motion failed 2-3. The board recorded Yes votes from Abernathy and Cunningham and No votes from Commissioners Chad Steward, Kurt Sutherland and Chair M.L. “Bud” Owens.
The denial leaves the parcel in R-3 residential zoning; county staff flagged existing Unified Land Development Code requirements and easements that would apply to future proposals. The commission closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items.
What happens next: the record shows the application was considered and denied; any future application would need to conform to county zoning rules and address the utility and buffering concerns raised during the hearing.
