The Locust Grove City Council voted at its March 1 regular meeting to deny an annexation request for a large piece of property on Locust Road.
The site in question consisted of nearly 214 acres from two combined tracts, according to officials. The council’s action came after city staff recommended approval and the Henry County Board of Commissioners voiced no objection to the request.
The applicant had no plans to change the RA (residential-agricultural) zoning for the property, but a rezoning from county RA to city RA would have been necessary to complete the process. With the annexation having failed, the rezoning issue was moot and there was no vote on it.
In other business, the city is continuing as a member of the I-75 Central Corridor Coalition. The council voted unanimously to support the continued membership at $500 per year.
The group advocates for integrated planning along I-75 between Henry, Spalding, Butts, Lamar, Monroe, Macon-Bibb and Houston counties along with adjacent areas, according to officials. This includes projects already planned along the corridor such as commercial vehicle lanes and the Bethlehem Road interchange, as well as other items like passenger rail, which many have supported over the years. Continued support for the group is sought in an effort to get grant money for additional planning between the Atlanta Regional Commission, Macon-Bibb and Warner Robbins along with the Georgia Department of Transportation in rural areas.
The council approved a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Historic Preservation Division regarding the city’s 2021 historic resource survey. According to officials, successful completion of the survey will result in access to historic preservation grants. Using this approach with an MOA will allow the city to proceed without hiring an outside consultant when a qualified staff person or volunteer is able to conduct the survey in compliance with HPD standards.
Two city service contracts were renewed by unanimous votes. According to officials, the agreement with Ronnie Glaze and ICC Inspection Services allows for continued performance of performing building plan reviews and inspections as well as electrical, plumbing and HVAC inspections for residential and commercial building projects. The contract with Mark Whitley and Whitley Engineering, Inc. is for continued performance of erosion and sedimentation plan reviews and inspections as well as assisting the city with mandatory reporting and the MS4 program.
The council appointed Stephanie Epps to the Downtown Development Authority to fill the unexpired term of Cheryl Clevenger, who resigned March 1. The term expires January 7, 2023.
