Things got a bit testy at the July 6, Liberty County Commissioners’ meeting as neighbors presented their opposition to another neighbor who is seeking a special exemption from the County.
The commissioners listened to a request from David Cheney, a disabled Veteran, for a special exception to live temporarily, no more than one year, in a motorcoach on his property at 97 East 1 Street in Midway. Cheney explained his formal residence had sustained significant damage from Hurricanes Irma and Michael. He said he was having ongoing issues with the insurance claims to the point of taking the matter to court, which has delayed his ability to build a new home. He said when COVID hit, that further delayed repairs as construction supplies dwindled and his lawyers were waiting on court dates to settle the matter.
Chairman Donald Lovette asked Cheney how long he had been living inside the motorcoach. Cheney said only a few months. He said he was living in Reidsville for a while with family.
His neighbor Reggie Woods said he is opposed to the special exemption saying Cheney has a garage
building that is currently sitting on his property. Woods said Cheney’s original plan was to build an apartment above the garage so he could live there until all the insurance issues were cleared up. Afterwards he would build his new permanent home.
“That garage is on my property,” Woods said. “So, he can not build an apartment on top of that garage. Number two that garage was built in the 1960s. It was not built to withstand a two-story apartment on top of it. It would have to be torn down. He has to tear it down now anyways because it is on my property.”
Woods said he is going to get a survey done because Cheney is fighting him about the property lines. He also said Cheney has been living in the motorcoach for more than twoyears.
Cheney countered by saying he never planned to build an apartment above the existing garage saying it is termite ridden and could fall down any day.
Chairman Lovette said the current matter before the Board was only for the special exemption for the motorcoach.
Woods said he still opposed the matter noting if the Board made a special exemption for Cheney it might open up a can of worms on Isle of Wight.
Another neighbor Frank Vercell said Cheney keeps a demolished residence, stores a huge pile of rubble on his property to include a dilapidated in-ground pool, which presents a mosquito hazard. Vercell said Cheney has been in violation of the county ordinance restricting motorhome as residences in R-2 zoned areas.
“He was cited for this violation and is now requesting special exemption,” Vercell said. “An approval of this request will essentially set a precedence for others to make more of the same requests further causing harm to property values and damage the community’s harmony.”
Vercell went on to say Cheney tends to not keep his word and will more than likely continue to violate the code and then make plans to move elsewhere near family.
Commissioner Eddie Walden asked if Cheney was ever given a permit to have the motorcoach there in the first place. Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission Director Jeff Ricketson said the building and permitting office was the entity that took Cheney before Magistrate court for being in violation.
Walden asked Cheney if Magistrate Court told him to move the motorcoach. Cheney said Magistrate Court informed him to go through the channel of requesting
the special exemption. Cheney also said he had not parked the motorcoach at the property on a fulltime basis but conceded it had been twoyears.
Lovette explained that Commissioner Maxie Jones, who was unable to attend the meeting, wanted to hear the matter because it was within his district. Lovette said Jones will review the meeting’s video and asked all parties to return for the mid-month meeting where a final decision will be determined on the matter.
The Commissioners voted to table the matter until the mid-month meeting.
Nirav Gandhi from the LCPC said his office received a rezoning petition from Gene Salter to re-zone a six-acre portion of the 61.84-acre property at the intersection of Highway 84 and Leroy Coffer Highway from General Commercial (B-2) to Industrial (I-1) for a wood transfer station at Salters field. The County Commissioners voted to approve the request.
The Commissioners voted to approve the final plat for the Colonies at Habersham Plantation, Phase 3A. It was for the final eight lots for single-family homes on 9.17 acres off Habersham Road and Wilkins Road in the County.
The Board appointed former Liberty County Chief Deputy, Jon Long to the Georgia Forestry Board for Liberty County. The Board approved the mutual aide agreements for the Cities of Riceboro and Walthourville for the municipal and County fire services.