The City of Douglas is looking to shake things up with a proposal to rezone three parcels of land from a residential classification to one better suited for thriving businesses, according to a public notice posted by the city. The application, which targets parcels 0097B 168, 0097B 169, and 0097B 177, totaling 1.55 acres, is set to transform the area off of Rose Lane & State Route 32 from Residential (R-15) to Gateway (G-W) zoning—a move that would sync up the zoning for all contiguous properties owned by the applicant.
The Douglas-Coffee County Planning Commission isn't wasting any time, as they've already swung into motion with a phone poll held on March 26, 2024, to gauge the temperature on the rezoning request; the Mayor & City Commission, not one to be left behind, are scheduled to follow up with the initial reading this past Monday, March 25, and they've penciled in a second reading and public hearing for the evening of April 8, 2024, giving locals a clear roadmap of when they can pitch in their two cents or possibly voice concerns. All gatherings are booked for the City Hall, ensuring that the community knows exactly where to be to stay in the loop.
For those who prefer to do their homework, the rezoning application is up for review at the City of Douglas Community Development Department, Planning Division, where interested parties can dig into the details any weekday—though it's best to clock in between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. just to make sure someone's there to help.
Douglas officials are urging anyone with a stake in the game or just a passing curiosity to circle their calendars and show up at the meetings, with the public hearing being an especially good time to hear the buzz and maybe stir one up themselves, residents with special needs regarding disability access or foreign language shouldn't shy away either—the city's got them covered with a quick call to Wynetta Bolder, the City Clerk, or through the Georgia Relay Service for those with hearing disabilities, because in Douglas, it looks like everyone's voice is primed to be heard loud and clear if they're willing to step into the ring.
