Rezoning request denied

By PEGGY KING

CORDELE — Residents of the Lake Blackshear Plantation area near Ironwood Golf Course burst into applause Tuesday morning as County Commissioners denied a rezoning request for 20.5 acres in their neighborhood in southwest Crisp County.

Owner of the property at the intersection of Lakeshore Way and Old Coney Rd., Shoreline Development LLC had requested that the land be rezoned from RS2 to RS1 so that an RV resort could be created.

In spite of assurances from local real estate agent Sherry Rinker who represented the developer that this development would be an asset to the county, Ironwood Golf Course residents remained unconvinced.

They had appeared at the October Commission meeting to express their concerns and since then had conducted a meeting of their own in Warwick to which all the commissioners were invited.

Among their concerns were potential declines in the value of their properties, adequate disposal of the waste that they felt would be created, increased traffic and what would happen to the property if development did not occur as projected.

Several expressed doubt that people with the financial ability to purchase $500,000 and more expensive recreational vehicles would be interested in buying lots in an area where there are limited amenities.

Developers were proposing the creation of a class A motor coach resort with 6000 square foot lots selling for $80,000 each. Each lot would have a coach house added increasing the value of the lot to $100,000+.

John Mangham who specializes in the sale of RV properties came to the meeting with Rinker. He assured commissioners and concerned residents that most of the multi millionaires who own expensive class A motor coaches are down to earth people who shop at Wal-Mart and are happier going to fish fries and barbecues than fancy restaurants.

There are not nearly enough resort lots to meet the demand, Mangham said, as he encouraged Crisp Commissioners to approve the proposal for the Ironwood area.

Before making the motion to deny the rezoning request, Commissioner William Culpepper said this was the most difficult decision he’s had to make since he was elected to the Commission three years ago. Commissioner James Harris echoed that sentiment, but the vote was unanimous.

In other business, Commissioners:

• Approved a $500,000 EIP (Employment Incentive Program) loan to Big Tex Trailers to purchase equipment.

Big Tex has promised to create 150 jobs within two years, and if the company doesn’t meet 70% of that goal, it will be penalized.

When the loan is repaid at 3% interest, it will be put into the county’s revolving loan fund so that it can be used to help other businesses.

Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Bruce Drennan said he believes Big Tex will do what they say. So far, he said, the company has spent about $3 million in cash in Crisp County. “They have not asked for bonds or any other loans,” he added.

• Authorized a resolution creating the Crisp-Turner Joint Development Authority. Turner County already has signed the necessary legal documents. The next step will be the appointment of members from both counties to serve on the Authority.

• Signed a franchise agreement with Crisp County Power. CCPC will pay the county $100,000 plus 5% of revenue each year for the five years of the agreement.

• Authorized employee Christmas bonuses which will be paid the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

• Agreed to contribute $1875 to the next Leadership Crisp program which is scheduled to begin in August of 2010. This is not a budgeted item, so monies must come from the county’s contingency fund.

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