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Neighbors oppose rezoning request for Scapa Road site proposed for trailer manufacturing
Summary
A March 10 public hearing in Ware County drew support and strong opposition to a rezoning request for 3873 Scapa Road to allow manufacturing and sale of utility trailers; the Planning Commission had unanimously denied the rezoning in February and neighbors raised environmental, nuisance and safety concerns.
Interim Planning Director Dustin Minchew introduced a rezoning request for 3873 Scapa Road (Parcel "034B01 050 C") to change the property from A (Agriculture Forestry) and A SOD to LI (Limited Industrial) and LI SOD for manufacturing and selling utility trailers. Minchew said complaints prompted a stop order at the site and that the Ware County Planning Commission had voted unanimously to deny the rezoning at its Feb. 11, 2025 meeting.
Codes Director Dave Hanson told the commission that paint used in the operation is classified as toxic and that odor and overspray can travel a significant distance, requiring an EPD environmental permit. Minchew said there are about eight or nine residences near the site and showed commissioners the map of distances between the business and nearby homes.
Applicant Mr. Gomez said he is the owner of the company and that he had been issued two licenses for the property—for parts and for wholesale; he and staff said manufacturing was not listed on those licenses. Maria Mata, who said she assists Mr. Gomez as an interpreter, said she helped him complete paperwork.
Leon Spivey spoke in support of Mr. Gomez, saying he has known him for 15 years and asking the commission to "do what is right and glorify Jesus Christ."
Neighbors spoke in opposition. Bonnie Crosby, who lives adjacent to the site, described open-air painting that produces overspray into her yard, paint that soaks into the ground (she said she uses well water), burning of materials containing toxic chemicals, and instances of employees whistling and making catcalls at her 14-year-old daughter. Ricky Crosby said spraying occurs as close as 39 feet from the property line, that his family cannot open windows or grill outside because of paint and chemical fumes, that trash blows onto their property, that loud music carries across the property, and that his child has asthma.
The commission added the rezoning request to the regular meeting agenda for later action; no final county vote was taken at the public hearing.
The record shows competing claims about whether existing business activity exceeded the scope of current licenses and whether mitigation or permits would address neighbors' public-health and nuisance concerns. The item will return to the board as a regular-agenda item for a future decision.
