Residents oppose Dorminey rezoning; commissioners deny one request and table two others

Residents at a Jan. 5 Coffee County commission meeting urged commissioners to reject rezoning requests for multiple parcels along GA Highway 32 West, and the board denied one application and tabled two others.

Code Enforcement Director Jason Whiddon summarized the first public hearing on a rezoning request by Carlton Dorminey for 23.01 acres at 4252 GA Highway 32 West to change from R1 (Residential) to W-LI (Warehouse Light Industrial). Whiddon said the Planning Commission met Nov. 24, 2025, and recommended denial; staff agreed, citing the parcel’s dirt-road access, nearby houses, and prevailing agricultural uses. "The Staff agrees due to it being on a dirt road, a rural area, houses and agriculture businesses and with 20 acres it opens up this location for more Industrial businesses," Whiddon said.

At the public hearing several nearby residents spoke in opposition. Aldosia McDuffie (4140 GA Highway 32 West) said she "would like to talk to Mr. Dorminey about this rezoning and his plans." Earnest Edwards (4100 GA Highway 32 West) said he opposed the rezoning because of potential noise and unknown future uses. Kyle Spivey of Green Willow Drive said he was "concerned about the traffic volume and traffic flow and people going into the property," and Vickie Pridemore (4348 GA Highway 32 West) told commissioners she worried about her well, possible pond contamination and noise.

After the hearing the commission moved to deny the 23.01-acre rezoning; Commissioner Johnny Wayne Jowers made the motion, Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens seconded it, and the denial carried unanimously.

The commission also considered two other Dorminey rezoning requests: a 10-acre parcel at 3572 Highway 32 West (R1 to C) and a 10-acre parcel at 3916 Highway 32 West (R1 to C). Both drew similar public concerns about traffic and noise; after public comment the commission voted to table both applications for further consideration.

Why it matters: Rezoning from residential to commercial or industrial classifications can significantly change permitted uses, traffic patterns and neighborhood character; neighbors pointed to well-water and noise impacts as reasons to defer decisions.

The board entered public hearings beginning at 9:55 a.m., closed hearings as noted in the record and adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.