Sullivan County approves partial rezoning for event venue at 3345 Highway 11W

Chairman John Gardner opened the rezoning hearing and the commission on the motion sponsored by Commissioner Calvin and seconded by Commissioner Hayes approved consideration of amendments to the county zoning plan before taking up individual cases.

Case No. 1 was a request from Ronald and Mary Fletcher to rezone a portion of 3345 Highway 11W from A1 to B4 to allow operation of a commercial event venue described in testimony as The Barn Dove. Planning staff and the Sullivan County Regional Planning Commission recommended approval; staff also noted neighborhood comment forms in the packet that included some opposition.

In public comment, multiple nearby residents spoke in support. Mary Mitcham, who identified her address and said she and her husband would operate the venue, told commissioners, “everything that we do at The Barn Dove ... would be to glorify God first,” and said the venue would provide an affordable option for weddings and community events while generating hotel-motel tax revenue. Neighbors including Alonzo Bottoms, Linda Robbins and Jared Darnell cited improved property maintenance, job and vendor opportunities and affordability for local residents.

Opposition was limited in the record but included a statement from Rick Bolt who argued the request looked like spot rezoning, raising concerns about a single owner holding land in multiple zones. The planning presentation and staff maps were reviewed in response; staff clarified only part of the parcel is proposed for rezoning and the existing M1 portion would remain unchanged.

Commissioner Means disclosed a campaign contribution from the applicant and said he would abstain from the vote. The clerk recorded votes from the board of appeals and the commission that resulted in 17 yes, one abstention and six absent; county staff announced Case No. 1 approved.

The commission closed the rezoning hearing after handling Case No. 1 and moved on to work-session items. The approved rezoning applies only to the portion described in the application; other parts of the parcel retain their original A1 and M1 designations.