THOMASVILLE- The Thomas County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday night, where they approved applicant Alicia Nicholson’s application for a conditional use zoning on 101 Paces Lane, despite objections from Nicholson’s neighbors. 

The property, which is currently zoned R-3 (Residential, Mixed Use), was requested to be changed to a zoning of R-3 C.U.  The requested variance would allow Nicholson to use the property as a Personal Care Home that would house up to six people. 

Roger King, who resides on Easton Crossing Road, told Commissioners the proposed Personal Care Home was right across from he lived and had questions about the impacts of having the mixed use building on the property. 

“If we have a commercial building, will it raise the taxes on our property?” he questioned. “Are they going to pave our dirt road, because if you’re housing other people, you have to have a way for the ambulance and other people to get there? These are just questions I don’t understand and have answered to, and I am full objection to it unless someone can explain that to me.” 

Chairman Zippy Vonier asked Inspections and Planning Director Kendall Gay if he could provide some insight into some of King’s concerns. 

Gay explained the change in zoning would be conditional upon Nicholson receiving the necessary licensing from the Department of Public Health and the state of Georgia. 

“It would not be a commercial property, it will stay as an R-3,” Gay continued. 

While Gay was able to answer the tax portion of King’s question, King still was concerned about the people who would be residing in the Personal Care Home. 

“Are we bringing elderly people there or handicapped people or homeless people?” King questioned. 

Gay assured King the individuals residing in the Personal Care Home would not be homeless, but individuals who met the requirements under the state regulations for a Personal Care Home. 

King’s primary concern was the paving of the road, which is something he said he has fought for 28 years.

“We’ve shut the county down from paving it twice, but if it’s helping people in the Personal Care Home, who is to say that we won’t be forced to pave it this time,” King said. 

King shared he has several pine and pecan trees that line the dirt road and doesn’t want them torn down to make way for paving, because he planted them. 

“I planted them and they’re mine,” he explained. “I just think if you do this, it will come to that.” 

Vonier thanked King for his comments, before welcoming Nicholson to clear up some of King’s concerns. 

Nicholson explained that she and her husband have been fostering in their home for countless years and still foster, but their desire is to provide a home for children who are aging out of foster care, but aren’t ready. 

“We just want to continue to provide services for these children,” Nicholson said. “They are special needs, so some of them may have autism or some of them may be intellectually delayed, but we have been fostering for a very long time.” 

Robert King of Easton Crossing Road also spoke in opposition to the conditional use zoning. 

“I’ve lived out there for 14 years, and I’m with my neighbor about the trees being cut down because of the services being provided,” he said. 

Robert stated he works with children who have special needs in Albany, Ga. and does not believe it is a safe area for them, citing a lot of weekend riders on the dirt roads, which he doesn’t want to see change.

“I’ve dealt with mental illness and it’s no joke,” he said. “I deal with it on a daily basis, and I just don’t want to see our neighborhood turn into something we can’t control. I’m just against it.” 

Nicholson also responded to Robert’s concerns, stating she and her husband had been housing kids there for years and no one knew they were fostering. 

“We’ve been fostering kids in that house for four years straight, and there will be no changes made to the home,” she asserted. 

Following Nicholson’s response, Vonier closed the floor for public comment, before hearing a motion to approve Nicholson’s request. 

District One Commissioner Rev. Jeremy Rich proposed a motion to approve Nicholson’s application for Conditional Use. He was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Moses Gross. 

The vote for approval was split among Commissioners with Rich, Gross, Vonier, Vice Chair Donnie Baggett and District 7 Commissioner Phillip Brown in favor, and District 6 Commissioner Wiley Grady, District 4 Commissioner Mark NeSmith and District 3 Commissioner Kenneth Hickey voting in opposition. 

With a 5-3 vote in favor, Nicholson was granted approval for a Conditional Use variation.