Bobby Jackson's plan to put 53 homes on 135.5 acres on Antioch Road is about 16 homes too dense, the county Planning Commission decided last week.

Commissioners voted 4-1, with Jim Graw opposed, to send Jackson's rezoning request to the county Board of Commissioners with a recommendation to deny. The board will hear the request, along with several others, during its Dec. 10 meeting, 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.

Jackson has two parcels, one currently zoned A-R (agricultural-residential) and the other zoned R-60, a residential category allowing two-acre lots. He is asking that both parcels be rezoned to R-72, allowing two-acre lots but requiring larger homes.

Residents of the area protested, saying they put their homes on five-acre lots because that was the requirement. "Why should it change?" asked Jim Chayce, who complained that higher density zoning is ruining the way of life along Antioch Road. "Progress is going to come, but I think there is a limit to how much progress can come," he said.

"Slow down a little. Allow the schools to catch up," said Jim Salvador, another resident. "Why change density and add to the problem?"

"I think the residents speaking against the petition have a lot of valid comments," said Planning Commission member Fred Bowen. Commission Chairman Bob Harbison said the current zoning of the two parcels provides a gradual decrease in density the farther out Antioch one goes. "I can't support the additional property that is now zoned A-R being rezoned," he said.

The Planning Commission also made recommendations on five other petitions that will be heard by the Board of Commissioners Dec. 10. The board recommended:

Denial of Margaret Barnes' request to rezone 12.2 acres on Padgett Town Road at Lone Oak Drive from A-R to R-70, allowing six two-acre lots. Commissioner Al Gilbert said the proposed homes would be on both well water and septic tanks. "I think two-acre is a little too small for both," he said. "It is clearly predominantly an A-R area," said commissioner Fred Bowen.

Denial of James Randal Holt's request to remove a parcel from Lakeview Estates subdivision and change its zoning from residential to O-I (office-institutional). Holt said he wants to develop the lot in accord with the county's special architectural standards for the Ga. Highway 54 corridor, but commissioners said the home in question fronts on the subdivision's internal street, not on Hwy. 54.

"When people buy in a platted subdivision, they should expect to see that subdivision stay that way," said Gilbert. "I have the utmost empathy for the situation that house is in, but I also have the empathy for the people who live in that subdivision."

Approval of Harry and Vester Davis' request to change the zoning of 173.5 acres on Lone Oak Drive from R-20, which allows one-acre lots to A-R to build a house and use the land for a horse farm. "We're zoning down instead of up," said Vester Davis.

Approval of Thomas and Elizabeth Romine's request to rezone six acres from A-R to R-72 (two-acre lots). Thomas Romine said he wants his daughter and son to be able to build homes on the land and live next door to him. Commissioners approved, with a requirement that Romine maintain a 100-foot buffer between the homes and Line Creek.

Approval of Brent Scarbrough's request to rezone 2.5 acres at Ga. Highway 85 and the 85 Connector from A-R to L-C (limited commercial) for a country store. (See related story)

Planners also heard three requests for Powertel communications tower permits and recommended approval of all three. Those requests will go to the board of Commissioners Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The commission is recommending approval of 180-foot monopole towers:

On 201.4 acres on Arnold Road, owned by Daniel McEachern.

On 26.2 acres at OId Greenville and McBride roads, owned by Charles McBride.

On 127 acres on Morgan Road, owned by the estate of John Kartos.

Residents expressed strong opposition to the towers in meetings two months ago, and commissioners tabled them to work on a master plan for towers in the county.

Commissioners took no further public comment before acting last week, but the County Commission will take public comment in its meeting tomorrow.