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Cusseta–Chattahoochee commissioners deny conditional use permit for mobile home at 105 Mustang Drive
Summary
After a contentious public hearing and neighborhood petition, the commission voted Dec. 3 to deny a Conditional Use Permit for the Lopez family to replace an older mobile home at 105 Mustang Dr.; planning and zoning had previously recommended approval and neighbors submitted 44 signatures opposing the permit.
The Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County denied a Conditional Use Permit request on Dec. 3, 2024, that would have allowed a manufactured home to be placed on a 1‑acre lot at 105 Mustang Drive.
Janet Lopez, who said she bought the property to live near family and to support a household that includes a teenager and a newborn, told the board she wants to replace a 1990 mobile home with a new unit because the existing structure has black mold. Planning and zoning had previously approved the family’s request, and Brent Ingersoll, the planning board chair, attended the public hearing.
Neighbors organized strongly against the permit during the public hearing. Matt McAdams and other residents read a petition and a printed excerpt of county zoning rules (Appendix A.3) and argued the street is primarily stick‑built homes and suitable for a stick‑built dwelling rather than a manufactured home. Melissa Haymond and Sheila Wilson told the commission that most mobile homes in the area were grandfathered in and that the neighborhood had not accepted new manufactured homes in over 20 years; the transcript records 44 signatures submitted in opposition.
“Nothing against the family,” Matt McAdams said, “but I just wish we could stick to the ordinance.” Neighbors raised property‑value concerns, noted a prior 5‑acre rule that they said had protected the area, and asked why a more thorough inspection had not been done before the Lopez purchase.
Commission discussion at both the public hearing and the regular meeting acknowledged the countywide scope of the CUP process and a need to revisit the ordinance. Commissioner Jason Frost and Vice‑Chair Timothy Biddle said the current CUP procedure gives the county flexibility but also produces local tensions. County Attorney Bin Minter explained that, under current rules, changes to the CUP process would still require the public‑hearing steps used in this case.
At the regular meeting following the public hearing, Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to deny the Conditional Use Permit for 105 Mustang Drive; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded the motion. The commissioners voted to deny the permit. The chair recorded that planning and zoning had recommended approval, and residents’ opposition and the neighborhood petition were noted as reasons for denial.
Chairman Charles Coffey also said, on the record, that the 5‑acre rule had been removed in prior code revisions and that the county has received legal challenges related to land‑use decisions; he told neighbors the CUP process was intended to help property owners but acknowledged the system had been controversial in some cases.
No vote or formal remedy to change the county’s CUP rules was adopted that night; several commissioners said they wanted staff and the board to review the CUP language and the county’s process at a future meeting.
The board’s written minutes record the motion and unanimous vote denying the permit; the proceedings were adjourned and the minutes were approved at the subsequent Jan. 7, 2025 meeting.
