News Editor

April 18, 2000 11 PM

BRUNDIDGE – Several residents attended the public hearing held by the Brundidge City Council opposing properties that were requested to be rezoned.

James Blanton, a property owner inside the city limits of Brundidge, requested his property be rezoned from RR to RMH at the March 31 Brundidge Planning Commission meeting to allow mobile homes to be placed on the property. The planning commission approved the request.

Blanton owns 13 acres off Allen-Smith Road, and said he did not want to start a trailer park but a residential area for mobile or manufactured home. By rezoning the property to RMH, only one mobile home could be placed on each acre, said Britt Thomas, city manager.

Blanton was present at the hearing, and said he had cleared the property, and by putting trailers there it would help keep the area clean.

Residents from the area near Allen-Smith Road attending the public hearing opposed the rezoning of the area because of concerns about increased traffic, noise and the fear it would decrease the value of their homes.

Eddie Baker, Brundidge resident, said he lived near the area and did not want the land turned into a trailer park.

"It is a quiet area," he said. "If you want to put a mobile home park put it outside the city limits. There are property owners who live out there who are adding on to their home to increase the value. Putting a trailer park out there would only decrease the value of the property."

Prior to the public hearing one trailer had already been moved to the area, and the residents attending the hearing said they did not have a problem with one trailer.

"There is no sense in uprooting the person that is already there, but don’t bring more out there," Baker said.

Council member Arthur Griffin made a motion to rezone just the one acre where the mobile home had been moved to RMH. The motion was seconded by Isabel Boyd. All council members voted "yes" to rezoning the property with the exception of Council member Jaine Treadwell, who said she wanted to go out look at the property before she made a decision.

The council denied a request by Linda Thompson to rezone property on Reynolds Street in the town of Brundidge be rezoned from RR to MH. When the request was brought before the Brundidge Planning Commission it was also denied.

Residents who live in the area of Oak Street, James Street and Ramage Circle were at the meeting to voice objections to rezoning because allowing mobile homes in the area would ruin the nice atmosphere of the neighborhood.

"Brundidge is a nice town, an old town, and we are known as an antique town, and I’ve never seen an antique trailer," said Barbara Bryan, resident of Reynolds Street. "We want to keep it a nice town. If you want a trailer park put it outside the city limits."

Residents of the area were also concerned about a trailer park bringing more traffic to the area, speeding and a reduction in the value of property.

Thompson was not present at the hearing.

A request by Willie Cope and a request by Willie Moultry was tabled until the next meeting.

Cope is requesting his property on Ash Street be rezoned from R3 to MH. Cope recently moved an old house from his property and wants the property rezoned for a manufactured home. The petition by Cope was approved by the Planning Commission.

Moultry, owner of Moultry Services Center, requested that the property be rezoned so he can use the lot across the street from his business as a parking lot for employees and customers.

A resident attending the hearing said by rezoning it would reduce some of the traffic in the area and help eliminate the possibility of accidents. The petition by Moultry was approved by the Planning Commission.

The next Brundidge City Council meeting will be held at 4 p.m. May 2 at city hall. The meeting is open to the public.