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Cusseta–Chattahoochee Commission denies conditional-use permit for mobile home at 105 Mustang Drive
Summary
After a public hearing in which neighbors urged the county to preserve the street’s stick-built character, the commission voted unanimously to deny a Conditional Use Permit that would have allowed a manufactured home on a 1-acre R‑1 lot at 105 Mustang Dr.
The Cusseta–Chattahoochee County Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 3 to deny a Conditional Use Permit that would have allowed a manufactured home to replace an older mobile home at 105 Mustang Drive.
The decision followed a public hearing in which the applicant, Janet Lopez of 105 Mustang Dr., said she purchased the lot to live near her son, who is serving in the military, and sought to replace a 1990 mobile home she described as having black mold so she could provide a safer home for her family. "I want to be able to support my family," Lopez said during the hearing.
Neighbors strongly opposed the permit. "This street is all stick-built homes except for two lots," resident Kitara Wilson said, arguing the neighborhood should continue to develop as stick-built housing and that placing a manufactured home would harm property values. Resident Matt McAdams, who provided a copy of the county ordinance, said the area’s pattern of development weighs against allowing new manufactured homes. Melissa Haymond and Sheila Wilson said they circulated a petition and presented 44 signatures opposing the request.
Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to deny the CUP; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded. Chairman Charles Coffey said the decision was difficult and apologized to the Lopez family, explaining the commission must weigh the neighborhood’s character and the history of ordinance changes. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners acknowledged the countywide Conditional Use Permit process applies across the jurisdiction and suggested the county should revisit the CUP rules. "We do need to go back and visit the conditional use permit and change or tweak the permit," Commissioner Jason Frost said during the hearing. County Attorney Bin Minter reminded the body that the hearing process is required under current law.
The hearing record shows Planning & Zoning had recommended approval and that the lot is zoned R‑1 and measures approximately 1 acre. Chairman Coffey noted that prior rules (a 5‑acre restriction) had been removed, which has changed how some lots are handled, and that the county has received significant community pushback on the issue.
The commission closed the public hearing and subsequently reconvened as the board of commissioners for its regular meeting, where the denial was recorded and formalized. No appeal outcomes or subsequent filings were noted in the meeting minutes.
The commission entered executive session later in the evening for legal matters and adjourned the regular meeting at 8:15 p.m.
