Commissioners Set to Vote on Rezoning Controversy

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Monroe County Commissioners are expected to vote on a controversial rezoning issue near Anderson Road Tuesday.

Bobby Duffy wants to a build a new school but is facing opposition from the county and his neighbors.

The Clayton County Public School teacher own six acres of land off of Anderson Road and Boxankle Road in Monroe County. He wants to start a school that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math but his land is zoned for residential and not agricultural. Duffy’s original application for rezoning did not pass. He filed an appeal and now the commissioner’s will vote again on the rezoning issue.

“I am not petitioning to build a school. I am petitioning to change the zone. But people don’t want to see the school, want to stop it by denying me a change of zone,” Duffy said.

Duffy says he’s also had issues with the community. Some neighbors don’t like the idea of having a school so close to home. Residents have raised concerns about noise and traffic issues. Duffy explains that his school will only have about 50 students enrolled at a time. He says his land is the only land in the area that is still zoned as residential. He feels his project is just misunderstood.

“No one has come to me and seriously sat down and talked with me to find out what I’m really trying to do,” Duffy said.

Bud Queen has sat down with Duffy several times. Queen lives across the street from the proposed school and he and his wife have no objection to the zoning change.

“We saw it as being a very good benefit to the community,” Queen said.

He even plans to attend the meeting in support of Duffy’s idea.

“I’ve been up there a couple of times. I sent them a letter and told them that we are probably the ones most concerned about it and we have no concerns at all,” Queen said.

The Monroe County Commissioners meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. If the board approves the rezoning, Duffy says he will work to meet the county’s building codes and then start building.