Wednesday, January 3, 2023–9:52 a.m.
-Diane Wagner, Rome News-Tribune-
The Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission will consider a number of agenda items when they meet Thursday
ESP Rome, a nonprofit supporting people with disabilities and their families has plans for a campus and headquarters on Kingston Highway. It’s currently based in an office on East Second Street.
Their request for a special use permit to renovate and use a former church property on Kingston Highway at Old Freeman Ferry Road is among the items the Rome Floyd Planning Commission will consider on Thursday.
The citizen board has a lengthy agenda for its first meeting of the year, set for 2:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St.
Another “campus,” Camp One Sirron at 175 Hasty Road, appears to be running into trouble. Bishop Norris K. Allen set up what he calls a private camp on the quarter-acre property but it’s been hosting unpermitted events that are open to the public.
The request is for a special use permit to operate as a public campsite, but there are unresolved issues regarding the size, parking, and restroom facilities. A code enforcement action is pending.
“The applicant may have good intentions, but the execution of his plan is problematic,” the planning staff report notes.
The planning commission makes recommendations to the Rome City and Floyd County commissions, which are slated to hold hearings later this month. Other applications up for review are:
♦ a request for Community Commercial zoning for a parcel at 3373 Alabama Highway in Coosa to remodel the existing building as a restaurant.
♦ a request for Community Commercial zoning for a parcel at 2610 Shorter Ave. zoned for residential use. Plans for the property are not specified.
♦ a request for Urban Mixed Use zoning for a tract at 1148 N. Broad St. that will be part of a previously approved townhouse development on the former funeral home site.
Several other applications would address zoning issues that stem from the existing use of the properties. Homeowners need residential zoning at 1908 Maple St. and 204 W. 10th St. A business at 3297 Martha Berry Highway needs a special use permit for its farm equipment rentals and sales. And the owner of a 38-acre suburban residential lot is seeking Agricultural Residential zoning to allow farming as well.
