Neighbors Speak Out Against Proposed Wrecker Service

News

CLEVELAND, Ga. — In a packed meeting room, area residents expressed their strong opposition to a zoning change that would permit a wrecker service to be built in their neighborhood at Monday’s White County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The White County Planning Commission recommended approval of Don Payne’s application to rezone 2.24 acres from residential single-family (R1) to Highway Business District (C2).

Speaking at Monday’s public hearing, Payne said the property would not be a junkyard, but a yard where towed cars could be stored and a 40-foot by 60-foot building could be built to work on their tow trucks.

But the proposal met with near unanimous disapproval from residents of the neighborhood who cited numerous problems ranging from the danger to children to narrow streets and negative impact on home values.

Susan Hudson said she presented a petition signed by 100 area residents to the planning commission expressing their opposition to the business. She questioned why a business would be zoned as Highway Business District in an established residential area where there is no highway access.

April Richardson said access streets like Hood and Campbell are both narrow and already have too much traffic.

City Councilwoman Annie Sutton, who lives in the small neighborhood, said, “The property use does not comply with either the city or county land use plan.”

A small corner of the property is located within the city limits of Cleveland and Pastor Brian Sutton said, “The city council opposes this, the mayor opposes it. It will be bad for the neighborhood.”

Commission Chairman Travis Turner scheduled the issue for a vote at the August 8 meeting.

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