Houston commission delays decision on Publix rezoning

At the request of the developer, the Houston County Commission on Tuesday postponed a decision on rezoning a tract in Bonaire for a Publix shopping center.

The board seemed poised to approve the rezoning for the property on the southeast corner of Ga. 247 and the new section of Ga. 96 that’s now under construction. The request was to rezone the 10.5-acre tract from single-family residential to commercial.

However, developer Merg Hoffman asked the board to table it. The request came after Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said he wanted to be clear that if the project goes forward, Hoffman would be “expected to participate” in the improvement of Ammons Road in its entirety.

“That’s non-negotiable,” Stalnaker said.

The road runs between the new Ga. 96 and Ga. 247 and borders the triangular-shaped tract on one side.

Hoffman didn’t object to the requirement to improve Ammons Road, but he asked for a postponement to get a clearer idea of what he would be responsible for doing and what the cost might be.

“I’d rather come to a firm agreement,” he said.

Hoffman said after the meeting that he did not expect the issue would stop or delay the project.

The same project previously hit a snag with the Warner Robins City Council, which didn’t want to extend sewer to it because it is not in the city limits. However, the city later agreed to run sewer in exchange for the developer covering the cost of the hookup and agreeing to annex if the property becomes adjacent to the city limits in the future.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Houston commission delays decision on Publix rezoning."