A major industrial rezoning was approved in a split vote by the Locust Grove City Council, potentially paving the way for a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse facility.
The vote at the council’s May 3 regular meeting was 4-2 to rezone a 95.48-acre tract along the west side of Davis Lake Road, between Pine Grove Road and Colvin Drive, and east of the railroad. The rezoning vote came immediately following a separate action regarding a proposed amendment to the city’s future land use map changing the designation on the same tract from medium-density residential to industrial. That motion passed 4-3, with the mayor breaking a tie to approve the measure.
In other business, two amendments to the ordinance governing police standard operating procedure were approved unanimously. One section was changed to specify that extreme methods to subdue a suspect are not allowed “except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law.” The amended section also states that “when it’s objectively reasonable that a suspect is fully in law enforcement control, then the force must be terminated.”
A separate section regarding police code of conduct was expanded to add the following sentence: “Officers have the duty and obligation to intervene to prevent or stop the known and apparent use of excessive force by another officer when it is objectively reasonable to do so.”
The council voted unanimously to authorize contracts with several companies regarding tourism-related outdoor advertising on billboards at various locations. The agreement is in conjunction with the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and hotel-motel tax revenue is funding the ads along I-75 in Henry and Clayton counties as well as on I-75 in Macon and along I-16.
The council approved the creation of a streetlight district in the Elmstone Commons subdivision and a special event permit for a 5K race in September to benefit Haven House, a local shelter for domestic violence victims.
The council voted unanimously to uphold the denial of a business license application for a proposed hand car wash in the parking lot of an existing gas station. The proposal does not comply with commercial car wash standards according to city staff, which suggested the applicant pursue a mobile car wash. But the applicant chose to move forward with the appeal of the business license denial.
The council also approved architectural plans for the proposed expansion of the Life Built Homes facility at 3390 Hwy. 42 South, for which the existing building’s space will be doubled and remodeled.
