Planning and Zoning Board approves variance for accessory building at 121 Rosedown Avenue
July 23, 2025 | Jones County, Georgia
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Planning and Zoning Board approved a variance to allow an accessory building in the front yard of 121 Rosedown Avenue after applicants Jerome Folks and Michelle Folks explained utility and septic constraints that, they said, make other locations on the lot infeasible.
The board’s approval followed a presentation from Jerome Folks, the applicant and property owner. Folks told the board that he and Michelle Folks moved to the property after he retired from the military and that he had already built a wood shop on the lot. “I got a little overzealous, and I built a woodshed down there because that was 1 of my retirement goals,” Folks said, adding that the structure was built in violation of an ordinance.
Folks said the planned residence and its required leach (septic) lines constrain where the accessory building can be placed. He told the board that the health department “said we couldn't put that forward because it would interrupt with the established lease lines that they're gonna build for our house.” He also said his stepchild granted an easement and that an easement had been filed with the county and the court to allow the residence to be built.
Neighbor Alfred Marsh spoke in support. “I sold them the 1.1 acres off my original 5.45 acres of Roadbound Avenue,” Marsh said, and added that he provided a copy of the easement so the Folks could build. Marsh said he had no objection and planned to help with construction.
A board member moved to approve the variance and another member seconded the motion. The board took a voice vote; the record includes an “Aye” response, and the chair told the applicants, “So, sir, you're good to go.” The board’s approval is limited to the variance requested; no other conditions or permits were described on the record.
The planning and zoning director later distributed a copy of a proposed data-center ordinance for the board’s review and said the board would not discuss that ordinance at this meeting.
The board’s approval followed a presentation from Jerome Folks, the applicant and property owner. Folks told the board that he and Michelle Folks moved to the property after he retired from the military and that he had already built a wood shop on the lot. “I got a little overzealous, and I built a woodshed down there because that was 1 of my retirement goals,” Folks said, adding that the structure was built in violation of an ordinance.
Folks said the planned residence and its required leach (septic) lines constrain where the accessory building can be placed. He told the board that the health department “said we couldn't put that forward because it would interrupt with the established lease lines that they're gonna build for our house.” He also said his stepchild granted an easement and that an easement had been filed with the county and the court to allow the residence to be built.
Neighbor Alfred Marsh spoke in support. “I sold them the 1.1 acres off my original 5.45 acres of Roadbound Avenue,” Marsh said, and added that he provided a copy of the easement so the Folks could build. Marsh said he had no objection and planned to help with construction.
A board member moved to approve the variance and another member seconded the motion. The board took a voice vote; the record includes an “Aye” response, and the chair told the applicants, “So, sir, you're good to go.” The board’s approval is limited to the variance requested; no other conditions or permits were described on the record.
The planning and zoning director later distributed a copy of a proposed data-center ordinance for the board’s review and said the board would not discuss that ordinance at this meeting.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
