Walton County commissioners voted unanimously to table a rezoning and land-use amendment request for property at 1350 Mountain Creek Church Road for 30 days, after public opposition and questions about whether vehicles stored there constitute an unpermitted automotive repair operation.
Applicant Melody Moon and Joseph Moon said the property is used for a hobby shop where Joseph stores and restores personal antique cars and occasional vehicles folks ask him to hold. They asked for a limited exception to allow outside storage of vehicles so they could clean and organize the site.
Several neighbors spoke in opposition, including Toni Smith, who said the site appeared to be a junkyard and asked the board to deny a change that would allow commercial outside storage in a residential area. Planning staff told the board the rezone application followed a code-enforcement complaint and that if vehicles are nonoperable, not registered to the owner or the location is used for paid automotive repairs, the use is not allowed under the current zoning.
Commissioners asked staff to verify whether the vehicles on site are registered to the applicant, whether the applicant charges for repairs and whether the vehicles are operable. One commissioner moved to table the request for 30 days to allow the applicant to provide more information; the board approved the motion unanimously.
If the applicant returns with a plan the board approves, the county said a full development plan will be required before any outdoor storage is authorized; that plan would typically include perimeter fencing, surfacing, driveway and screening requirements. If the request is denied on final action, code enforcement would require removal of vehicles that are not permitted under the current A1 zoning.