Planning commission approves special exception for rural event center on Locust Grove Road

The Spalding County Planning Commission voted to approve a special-exception request to allow a rural event center at 2545 and 2547 Locust Grove Road in Griffin, a combined tract of about 34.3 acres.

The application, presented by Darryl Johnson of JDM Consultants on behalf of owner Dorothy Brown, was a holdover from an August 26 hearing. Johnson said the applicant substantially revised the site plan to remove cabins and other short-term lodging previously proposed toward the rear of the property and to focus on a front-located event center with a caretaker residence and accessory structures. Johnson said the venue will seek to accommodate up to 200 guests and operate roughly 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the majority of events.

The proposal drew several residents who opposed the use. Dee Ellis, who said she lives at 2670 Locust Grove Road across the street from the parcel, said the area is rural and quiet and that residents bought with the zoning in mind. "We live in a rural area and for the most part, it is quiet and peaceful," Ellis said. Neighbors raised concerns about noise carrying across the site’s open areas and lake, increased traffic at a recently changed intersection, liquor and security at events, the possibility of firearms entering the neighborhood, and whether the site satisfied setback requirements.

Applicant and staff responses and site details
Darryl Johnson and owner Dorothy Brown said the revised plan removes the rear lodging and limits overnight use to a single dwelling that would serve as a caretaker’s residence and, occasionally, as lodging for owners or business partners. Johnson said there will be no shooting on the property: "There won't be any shooting going on at this venue. No, no guns or weapons on the site where we're gonna be shooting." He also said the applicants plan vegetated buffers, on-site overflow parking outside stream buffers, and the option for shuttle service from nearby hotels.

Staff report and setbacks
Planning staff noted a specific local standard for bridal/event centers that generally requires a 200-foot setback from property lines to provide a buffer for existing residences. The applicants’ revised plan shows a 100-foot buffer in places; staff told the commission that if the use is approved a separate setback variance would be required because a 200-foot buffer would make the proposed footprint largely unbuildable given the stream buffer, pond and floodplain shown on the site plan.

Public hearing and vote
After public comment, a board member moved to deny the special exception; that motion died for lack of a second. Another member moved to approve the application with the staff's recommended conditions; that motion was seconded, and the commission approved the special exception with one member opposed. The name of the opposing member was not recorded in the public record provided.

Next steps
Staff said the decision will proceed to the Board of Commissioners for final action; staff has the item advertised for the Oct. 23 agenda. If the special exception is adopted by the commissioners, the setback variance will be separately advertised and will return to this planning body before moving on to the commissioners, likely as a single package later in November.

The commission’s action approved the event-center use subject to the standard and revised conditions presented by staff; approval is conditioned on further permitting, and the applicant will need a separate variance for the reduced setback before building on the approved footprint.