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BOC denies zoning, recognized as PlanFirst community
LBOC
The Liberty County Board of Commissioners applaud the county be redesignated as a DCA PlanFirst community at the regular December meeting. - photo by Asha Gilbert

The Liberty County Board of Commissioners denied a rezoning request filed by Mike D. Howe at the Dec. 4 regular meeting. The request was tabled for 90 days at the Sept. 4 LCBOC regular meeting and the request was to rezone the property from AR-1 (Agricultural Residential District) to B-2 (General Commercial District).

When the initial request was brought before the commission, Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission planner Alan Seifert informed the 4.77 acre property would be used to operate a semi-truck and auto equipment repair facility if the rezoning request and conditional use permit were approved. Concerns were raised when the property was cleared before Howe obtained a land disturbing permit.   

“The clearing of the land was the concern without us being notified and we did send them an order to cease that,” District 5 Commissioner Gary Gilliard said.

Members of the New Outreach for Christ Center adjacent to the property maintained their position of not wanting the rezoning request to be approved. Their biggest fear of the property being rezoned, they said, was the 18-wheelers pulling out onto the street.

“I am opposed to it and I live in that general area,” Former County Commissioner Chairmen John McIver said. “There are adjacent land owners that I know have not been contacted and would be opposed to this.”

In other BOC business, a conditional use permit was granted to Edna Scott Walthour to construct a Boys and Girls Club in Holmestown.  The 2-acre site was donated by heirs of the Susan Singleton Wayne Estate.

A request to purchase a packmat rolling compacter for the Liberty County Solid Waste Authority was approved after the old machine stopped working.  Also the commission was informed of the county being redesignated as a plan first community.  

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