Stephens County Moves Ahead With Land Use Ordinance

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Stephens County is going ahead and designing a land use regulation plan recommended by a special committee assigned to research the matter.

This week, the Stephens County Board Of Commissioners voted unanimously to move work on coming up with a plan similar to Franklin and Madison Counties.

Stephens County commissioner Dean Scarborough said the county is dealing with zoning issues now because an ordinance is not in place.   Scarborough says the county cannot wait any longer for guidelines.

“If we do not do it, we could have several more Wilbros,” said Scarborough, referring specifically to the Rose Lane business causing controversy over its odors. “We will not be able to afford to take every single one of them to court. We have already found out that the state will not protect us in this instance. We are finding out the court is not a lot of help right now either. We have got to protect ourselves and now is the time to do it.”

But some commissioners, such as Debbie Whitlock and commission chair Stanley London are concerned about zoning.

“When I ran, I said we can’t have our cake and eat it too,” said Whitlock. “I abhor it if you want to know the truth, but we have to do something to protect ourselves.”

For his part, London says he remains opposed to zoning, but will give the committee an opportunity to work on the matter.

“I do appreciate this committee,” said London. “I am glad that we have some new members on it. When I open those two (plans) mentioned in this motion, it does scare me. Again, hopefully you as a committee can work something out.”

Recently, the Land Use Regulation Committee voted 7 to 1 to make submit a recommendation to the board to come up with a zoning ordinance.

They will now begin to develop an ordinance, but no timeline for a vote on a zoning plan has been established.