CORNELIA, Ga. — A proposed mini-storage development along one of Cornelia’s busiest corridors will once again take center stage when the Cornelia City Commission meets Tuesday evening.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a request from Blue Bird Mini Storage LLC to rezone approximately 4.2 acres at 1509 Level Grove Road from R-1 Single-Family Residential to Highway Business for a planned mini-storage facility. The request also includes an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance regarding the placement of accessory buildings in Highway Business districts.
The proposal has been under review for several months and has sparked discussion among city officials and residents about both the future of the highly visible property and its proximity to a historic family cemetery.
Commissioners tabled the request in June after raising questions about whether another mini-storage facility was the best use for one of the city’s primary gateways. They also requested architectural renderings, landscaping plans, buffer details and additional information before making a decision.
During that meeting, Commissioner Mark Reed said he did not want Cornelia to become known as “the home of the mini-storage” instead of the Big Red Apple.
The project also prompted concerns from Cornelia resident ZeAndre Ali Shakur Wilmont, whose family has relatives buried in the cemetery behind Level Grove Baptist Church overlooking the property. Wilmont told Now Georgia he believed land clearing associated with the project had come “a little bit too close” to the graves of his mother, grandparents and great-grandparents and urged the city to protect the historic burial ground.
Ward 2 Commissioner Janice Griggs, who has volunteered to help maintain the cemetery for nearly 20 years, said the cemetery is privately maintained through donations despite county tax records listing Level Grove Baptist Church as the owner. Griggs said she met with developer Todd Campbell, who agreed to install a fence separating the development from the cemetery to ensure the graves are protected. She also said she intends to continue working with the developer as the project moves forward.
In addition to the public hearing, commissioners are expected to consider a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between Habersham County and its municipalities related to the proposed Flexible Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST). The agreement is a key step in placing the one-cent sales tax referendum before voters later this year. If approved by voters, the tax would replace property tax revenue with sales tax revenue while providing funding for capital projects throughout the county.
Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include:
- A public hearing on an amendment to Chapter 6 of the city’s zoning ordinance.
- Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Consideration of a sign variance request for Wily Street at Cornelia Connection Drive.
- Presentations from the Georgia Municipal Association Legislative Counsel and the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System.
- Department reports from recreation and planning.
The Cornelia City Commission will meet at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, in the Commission Chambers at Cornelia City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
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