TIFTON — Due to concerns from the community and the threat of spot zoning, county commissioners denied a request to develop an equestrian center at their May 13 meeting.

Alicia Hill Smith, owner of a 5-acre tract of land on Old Ocilla Road, submitted an application to have the property rezoned from Agriculture to Community Commercial, which would allow her to build an equestrian center for the purpose of conducting riding lessons and hosting horse shows.

At both this and the previous meeting held May 7, community development director Chris Davis stated that there were no other commercially zoned properties in the area, meaning that to allow the rezoning as requested would lead to an invalid spot zoning.

Additionally, he reported that the planning and zoning commission had determined the planned development did not meet nine of the county’s 11 zoning standards, as well as a majority of comments from the community being in opposition to the rezoning.

During a public hearing, Smith explained the property had been in her family’s possession for generations, and she said she was experienced in operating riding schools due to running one on her own home property. She expressed that the equestrian center would better accommodate her 65 students, and that the scheduling of her classes only in the afternoon and on weekends would not cause traffic issues along Old Ocilla Road as county officials feared.

She also provided evidence that her mother had operated a similar form of riding school along the road in the past, and was confused as to why she was facing an issue now.

Other residents present at the meeting, however, spoke out in opposition of the development.

Marcia Holloway, a property owner living near the parcel in question, stressed that her concerns for the rezoning was not the center itself, but the commercial aspect of the horse shows in a majority Agriculture-zoned area. Indeed, she expressed that if the property was planned to only be Agriculture, she would have no issue with it.

She also reported that the road exhibited traffic well within the time frame of Smith’s classes.

Laura Crumpton was likewise concerned about the commercial nature of the development, feeling it would not only disrupt the quiet community in the area, but open the floodgates to allowing other commercial-zoned properties to set up shop in the area.

County manager Jim Carter noted that the Agriculture zoning designation existing on the property would actually allow most of what Smith wanted to do with the equestrian center, but she would be unable to operate the events and shows. In its current standing, he recommended denial of the request.

Commissioner Stan Stalnaker made the motion of denial, with the remaining commissioners voting unanimously in favor of his motion.