Vidalia City Council Discusses Zoning Changes, Construction Projects

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During the Vidalia City Council meeting on Monday, April 14, city officials discussed several potential zoning changes within the city.

The Council agreed to table the rezoning request from Leo Peebles, which would rezone an area from C-3 Highway-Oriented Commercial District to R-3 High Density Residential District, so that several tiny homes may be built. The motion to table the decision was made by Councilman Loyd Mobley, who stated that the renderings provided to the council did not show the number of units which Peebles intended to build; thus, Mobley suggested waiting to vote on the decision until the correct renderings had been provided. Councilman Bob Dixon seconded Mobley’s motion, and the move to table the decision passed unanimously.

However, council members did agree to rezone an area from A-1 Agricultural to C-2 Commercial/ Retail to allow a new hotel to be built. M.E. Sack Engineering submitted this rezoning request. The beginning construction date of the hotel was not announced.

The Council also authorized city officials to execute a letter to deobligate OneGeorgia funds that had not already been used on the Loop Road Housing Project, and return them to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. This deobligation comes as the developer of the workforce housing area is unable to meet the requirements to receive the funding. City Manager Josh Beck informed the Council and meeting attendees that this deobligation of funds will not prohibit the city from receiving grants in the future, but rather gives back money that cannot be spent on the project. Council members also approved the repair of a collapsed sewer line, which was damaged during Hurricane Helene, on Swift Creek Road. This repair will be completed by S.A. Brown Enterprises and will cost $60,500 total.

The Council also accepted the bid from McDuffie Construction to construct a 40-foot by 228-foot pole barn for the Ezra Taylor Sports Complex. The barn will be used by both the Recreation Department and the Sweet Onion Golf Authority to house maintenance materials and golf carts. The total cost for this project is $131,548.96 — $56,250.00 of which is for labor and $75,298.96 of which is for material – and will be funded through the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).