Walker County approves Mounts rezone, denies Roach request and grants Farr variance

The Walker County Board of Commissioners voted on three land-use petitions during its May 7 meeting.

The board approved a request from Richard Mounts to rezone property at 1412 Happy Valley Road in Rossville from C-1 (commercial) to R-3 (residential). The planning commission had recommended approval and no members of the public spoke in opposition; the motion to follow the planning commission passed unanimously.

A rezone petition from Alex and Janet Roach for property at 3791 Round Pond Road (A-1 to RA) drew opposition from several neighbors who cited concerns about tree clearing, drainage, emergency access, and the neighborhood's low-density character. The planning commission had recommended denial; after discussion the board voted unanimously to deny the Roaches' request.

Krista Farr requested a variance to move her elderly mother's mobile home onto family-owned acreage at 159 Dusty Trail because the parcel where the home currently sits is in probate and access and septic work are required. Farr said her mother is 83, the move would be about 1,000 feet on septic, and a soil test has been completed; the planning commission recommended approval and the board approved the variance unanimously.

Chair Angela Teens told the petitioners the board would announce decisions after hearing all three items and that written tax-map and parcel numbers were entered into the record for each property. The board's votes recorded the planning commission's recommendations and were taken in open session.