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Planning panel backs Fig Leaf hobby‑farm rezoning with animal limits
Summary
The Walton County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request to let a property owner keep a small hobby farm, but imposed strict animal limits and conditions after neighbors raised HOA, visibility and long‑term use concerns. The decision now goes to the Board of Commissioners.
The Walton County Planning Commission on Aug. 6 recommended approval of Z260159, allowing the owner of a portion of the Fig Leaf Risk Advisors LLC property at 3084 Brooks Trail to rezone roughly 4 acres from R‑1 to A‑1 for a family hobby farm. The move came with explicit limits — no more than 4 sheep, 4 goats and 12 chickens — and a requirement that any uses beyond what was requested return to the commission for review.
Applicant Michael Campbell asked the board to judge the request on its merits, saying the animals would be kept in a fenced area and that the proposed grazing pasture was about 200 feet from the nearest neighbor. "We respectfully ask for your approval of our request," Campbell said during his presentation.
Neighbors told a different story in public comment, citing what they called an out‑of‑character barndominium already visible from Brooks Trail and warning the A‑1 designation would run with the land. Ed Fair, a resident of Bluff Creek Trail, urged denial and warned the application would shift the burden to the neighborhood: "So now he's trying to turn his problems into our problems." Several speakers cited county records and petitions collected by neighbors.
Commissioners debated the legal questions about homeowners‑association covenants and examined county plat and tax records. The chair noted county staff records showed the partial parcels in question did not "pop up with a subdivision name" on the recorded plat, a fact he said influenced how the commission could weigh covenant enforcement. Because covenants are private, the county does not enforce them, the board emphasized; any court determination about covenant applicability would be separate from the commission's recommendation.
After deliberation the chair moved to approve the rezoning with the animal limits and the condition that any modification beyond the requested uses return to the commission. The motion passed 3‑2. The matter will be considered by the Walton County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 1.
