Fork Shoals Road Industrial Rezoning

At a glance

What: Ordinance (Z-4-2026) to rezone about 5.06 acres on Fork Shoals Road from RH-B, House B District, to IG, Industrial General District, following an annexation.
Where it stands: Failed at second and final reading on August 24, 2026; the minutes record the motion failing 0-7.

John Darrohn of Darrohn Engineering spoke for the applicant during public comment. He said staff had worked with the applicant since first reading to find other parcels that might suit it, without success.
Councilmember Brasington moved, seconded by Councilmember Belge, to open the floor for discussion for second and final reading.
Councilmember Dowe opposed the rezoning, saying she could not vote for it in good conscience because the parcel slopes down into a creek that feeds the Conestee Nature Preserve. She said the current residential zoning is also not feasible and the land could be used to preserve open space, and thanked staff for helping the applicant look at other parcels.
Councilmember DeWorken said he was optimistic about finding another parcel and was disappointed it did not work out.
Councilmember Belge questioned the practice of like-for-like rezoning of annexed property and why staff recommended approval. Mr. Frixen, the interim planning director, said there is no Future Land Use designation for the property and staff based the recommendation on growth trends nearby. Councilmember Belge suggested reassessing how annexed property is zoned against Future Land Use classifications.
The motion failed 0-7. The roll call at the start of the meeting lists Councilmember Gibson absent, so the 0-7 count in the minutes is likely a clerical slip; the recorded result is a unanimous rejection.

Rezoning rejected at second and final reading; motion failed 0-7 (see the note on the vote count).