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In a split decision, the Troup County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a rezoning request that was opposed by the Mountville community.

The commission chamber room at the courthouse was nearly full with members of the Mountville community voicing opposition to a rezoning request from developer BC Stone Homes who asked that 48.54 acres off of Greenville Road (GA 109) be rezoned from Agricultural to Agricultural Residential zoning, which would allow for smaller than 5-acre lot sizes.

The property owner, Vernon Prince, wants to build a subdivision with 17 homes.

The Board of Planning and Zoning Appeals voted to deny the rezoning application, 4-2. The commissioners tabled the issue at their previous meeting to give the matter more consideration. 

Numerous residents from the Mountville community spoke out against the rezoning application at the meeting on Tuesday, raising concerns from the danger of increased traffic on Greenville Road to potential sceptic tank issues.

Angela Chambers, of Dallas Mill Road, questioned whether the area could handle 17 additional sceptic tanks because although the property has city water, it does not have sewer service.

“I’m concerned about the well water, because there’s no city water on our dirt road, and we all drink well water every day, so we are concerned about the 17 septic systems being added,” Chambers said. “These 17 landowners, they’ll probably have at least two cars per house, if not more, they’re going to enter and exit in a 55-mile-per-hour speed zone, in a curve, and it is a dangerous curve. There have been accidents out there.”

Betsy Barnett, of Thrash Road, said her main concern was the increased traffic the new development would create.

“The only reason I’m really speaking is to speak to the traffic because every day I pull out of Thrash Road going left into town I fear for my life. That sign is a sign and people don’t abide by the speed limit signs there,” Barnett said, acknowledging a 35 mph warning sign.

Developer Brian Stone, of BC Stone Homes, defended the rezoning request, saying he has paid to do soil tests to ensure the number of sceptic tanks they plan to put in will be acceptable.

Stone also acknowledged the opposition from the Mountville community and a petition signed by 150 residents opposing the rezoning request. 

“In this general area, there’s actually 300 to 400 homes. It depends on how you do the math, 150 people is a lot of people. That’s a very, I mean, respectful petition. I agree with that, but that’s only 15 to 30% of the adult population of the area. That’s the same petition group, and that’s about the same size petition that was against us at Thrash Road, probably the same size petition that was against the convenience stores and I think every other development that’s been out there in the past five years,” Stone said. “It’s been a continuous pattern of protesting and petitioning for all the developments, but if it’s only 15 to 30% of the adult population … that’s not the majority. It’s not even close to the majority of the community.”

Ultimately, Commissioners Jimmy McCamey and Morris Jones voted to approve the rezoning application, with Commissioners Jamie Thrailkill and Rex Scott in opposition. Commission Chair Patrick Crews broke the tie, voting in favor of the rezoning.