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Gordon County suspends hearing on poultry expansion, approves multiple rezonings
Summary
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners on June 16 suspended consideration of a conditional-use permit for a poultry operation until July 7, 2026, after applicant counsel requested delay; the board also approved seven rezoning requests by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners on June 16 voted to suspend consideration of a conditional-use permit to expand a poultry operation and approved a package of rezoning requests during a regular meeting at the Judicial Building Assembly Room.
Attorney Tyler Knauss, speaking for the applicant on CUP-26-002 (426 Old Boone Ford Road, Calhoun, Parcel 087-066), asked the commission to suspend the public hearing until the board’s next regular meeting on July 7 because only three commissioners were present to consider the matter. After residents Heath Smith and Kimberley Bedford spoke in opposition—raising traffic-safety, property-value and environmental concerns—the board accepted submitted materials and voted 3-0 to suspend consideration until July 7, 2026; Commissioner Kurt Sutherland had left the room and did not participate in the vote.
The board then moved through a series of rezoning requests. The commission approved RZ-26-29 (376 Erwin Hill Church Road, Parcel 069-010D), RZ-26-30 (255 Brownlee Mountain Road, Parcel 027-074A), RZ-26-31 (2074 Riverbend Road, Parcels 071-038, 071-078, 071-072), RZ-26-33 (232 Middle Road, Parcel 106-118) and RZ-26-34 (857 Highway 411, Parcel 116-041) on 4-0 votes following Planning staff and Planning Commission recommendations.
RZ-26-32 (1232 Sugar Valley Road, Parcel 031-171F) drew questions from commissioners about lot sizes, buffers and potential future development. Consultant Jake Bearden said lots would be at least one acre (the smallest exactly one acre), the developer estimated homes would sell in the mid-$500,000 range, and roughly 19 acres would remain natural outside the stormwater pond. Residents Dr. Joann Meadows and Charity Muse spoke against that rezoning citing concerns about preserving the property and protecting wildlife. Vice-Chair Kevin Cunningham moved to approve RZ-26-32 and the motion carried 4-0.
The final rezoning, RZ-26-35 (3090 Sugar Valley Road, multiple parcels), would reclassify mixed light-industrial and agricultural land to heavy industrial to continue manufacturing operations. Jake Profit of Aladdin Manufacturing told the commission the site would remain manufacturing for carpet production; resident Donna Sandy objected due to floodplain concerns. The board approved the rezoning 4-0.
Next steps: the suspended CUP (CUP-26-002) will return for formal consideration at the July 7, 2026 meeting. The approved rezonings were adopted by motion on the record; the meeting record does not specify any appeals or conditions beyond those noted by Planning staff.
