County Commissioners approve commercial rezoning on Highway 96

PERRY — Highway 96 will soon get more commercial development after the Houston County Commissioners approved two re-zonings at the Sept. 1 meeting. 

The property is located at the intersection of Highway 96 and Old Hawkinsville Road. 

On the northeast corner of the intersection, the property is 17.02 acres with the northwest corner being over four acres. Both parcels were originally zoned R-1. 

Life-long Bonaire resident, Tony Bass, spoke in opposition to the rezoning. He pointed out in the 2022 Houston County Comprehensive Plan, the intersection of this rezoning is not a commercial node in the county. Bass spoke mainly to protect Bonaire’s “rural and residential character”.  

“The Comprehensive Plan identifies a county-wide concern that Houston County is losing its strong home-town rural character,” he said. “Growth should be compatible with the community it enters.” 

Bass pointed out the lay of the land of the area. He said the area includes agribusiness operations such as growing cattle along with residential homes all over. 

He said the Comprehensive Plan described Highway 96 as a “double lane divided median roadway” as well as a “high priority corridor for transportation”. Bass said the plans he’s looked at look like strip development, something not compatible with the area according to the Comprehensive Plan. 

“When you put curb cuts into a 55 mile-per-hour highway you are going to create more conflict with vehicles entering and exiting,” he said. 

Another point Bass mentioned is that he hopes Highway 96 does not turn out to be another Watson Blvd. He said the plan describes Watson Blvd. as a corridor “dominated by strip development”. The consequence of that, Bass said, is the traffic congestion. 

Charles Talton spoke in favor of the rezoning. He said his family had owned the property before he and his siblings inherited it after they passed away. He said they divided their shares back in 2008. Talton said in 2021 that he, his wife and daughter decided to put the property up for the public. After five years of unsuccessful attempts to sell the property, Trinity Property development contacted them for purchase. 

“I personally contacted several neighbors who owned nearby land and told them my intentions,” Talton said. 

Talton closed by comparing this to similar development on Highway 247 and questioned if anyone has protested that development. 

“This property has been actively marketed for five years online and with signage everywhere,” he said. 

Commissioner Shane Gotwals said before making the motion that he is a “stalwart of preserving rural character” and also knows the comprehensive plan very well. 

However, Gottwals said he has looked at all the facts given that this development would be on the same developed highway and that it was voted unanimously by the Houston County Planning Commission. 

“It’s tough, but there are private property rights, and we’re also bound by the law [making it] a very tough one to vote against,” he said. “Private property owners are going to be the ones who drive how this community looks going forward.” 

Gottwals made it clear that his motion to approve is with the intention of creating a commercial node only and not a chain of commercial development on Highway 96. 

The Board voted 3-0 in favor of the rezoning. Commissioner Tal Talton abstained from voting due to Charles Talton being a family member of his.