Rezoning requests get rules committee nod

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee recommended two rezoning requests on U.S. 41-A (Unionville Highway) during its meeting Tuesday night.

Jamie Garrett has requested that his property at 2686 U.S. 41-A (Hen House Restaurant) and his property at 2678 U.S. 41-A (Garrett's Automotive) both be re-zoned from A-1 (agriculture) to C-2 (commercial).

The final decision will be made next month by Bedford County Board of Commissioners, which will hold a public hearing prior to its June 9 regular meeting.

Both businesses are currently operating as special exceptions under the A-1 zone. A "special exception" is a list of uses allowed for a particular zone, but only with the permission of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Although both businesses could continue to operate as is, they would have to go back for permission again if their uses were to change. Changing to commercial zoning would allow the current or future owners more flexibility, said commissioners.

The county planning commission had recommended the change last month, but only six of the 11 planning commission members were present for the meeting. All six voted in favor of the change. Commissioners asked codes and zoning officer Kay Demonbren if any of the five absent commissioners had later expressed any opposition to the decision. She said she hadn't spoken to any of them.

Rules committee member Jimmy Patterson, who is also a member of the planning commission, made the motion to recommend the zoning change and pass it on to the full county commission, but he asked for a roll call vote. Committee members approved the Hen House site 5-0. They then approved the Garrett's Automotive site by voice vote.

Highway resolutions

The committee recommended passage of three standard annual resolutions involving the county highway department:

• A resolution allowing the department to apply for a state litter prevention grant;
• A resolution allowing the department to appropriate $7,000 to Shelbyville & Bedford County Senior Citizens Center for its public transportation vans; and
• A resolution allowing the highway department to contract with other government entities or agencies to do paving or site work.

The committee also recommended a resolution which would authorize Bedford County Solid Waste Authority to apply for a waste tire grant from the state.

Library board

The committee recommended appointment of Fred Hunt and reappointment of Lynn Hulan to the Shelbyville & Bedford County Library Board. Hunt would succeed Barry Cooper. Both appointments would be for three years.