Commission recommends approval to rezone 3 acres for family housing to care for a resident with dementia

Walton County Planning Commission members voted Feb. 5 to recommend rezoning 3 acres at 3111 North Sharon Church Road (Z250392) from A-1 to R-1 to create a buildable lot with a shared driveway. Applicant Daniel Haywood said the rezoning is needed so he can construct a residence to provide full-time care for his father, who has dementia, and described prior improvements to the property when his father bought it in 2006.

Neighbor Brad Shachnowski, who lives adjacent at 3091 North Sharon Church Road, opposed the request and argued the area functions as a continuous low-density agricultural corridor, warning that approval might set a precedent and erode the county’s long-term planning goals. Haywood responded that the lot was buildable when purchased and described previous construction on the property.

The commission had no further questions, and a motion to recommend approval was made and passed by voice vote; the recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final decision on March 3.

This action is a recommendation only; the Board of Commissioners has final authority. The record shows the commission considered both the applicant’s caregiving rationale and the neighbor’s argument about maintaining low-density agricultural character.