The Walton County Planning Commission voted to approve a rezoning request (Z240059) for 9 acres at 6285 Highway 20, rezoning the parcel from OIR-1 to B-2 to allow a mixed office, warehouse and retail development.

Andrea Grama, representing Fisco Limited, told the commission the owner purchased the land in 1998 and the parcel sits between two planned roundabouts on Highway 20. Grama described a storefront row of about 10 retail units facing Highway 20 with 20 smaller office/warehouse units behind, calling the planned buildings “a very attractive design” and saying the site would not be a self-storage facility.

The applicant said the site plan is conceptual and that the engineered layout will meet Walton County ordinances for parking, lighting and buffering. Grama said the design leaves mature trees in place, sets a 50-foot buffer along property edges and places the stormwater detention pond at the low point near Highway 20. She also said the detention pond will be sized to handle a 100-year storm, an upgrade over the county’s minimum and the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual’s 25-year baseline.

Neighbor Lamar Dawson, who lives near the property, testified in opposition, saying he was concerned about truck noise and traffic entering and exiting Highway 20 near the two roundabout sites: “You can imagine what kind of noise and what kind of exhaust fumes is gonna be coming from this. That’s my main concern.”

Grama responded during rebuttal that the developer does not intend to route tractor‑trailers through the site and anticipates typical office and retail hours; she said smaller delivery trucks would use rear bay doors for warehouse access. The commission’s chair also reminded the public that Georgia DOT and the county will require a traffic study and set driveway standards before permits are issued.

Following discussion, the commission approved the rezoning request by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The commission packet and discussion note that the project must meet county ordinance standards and Georgia DOT access requirements before any building permits are issued.

The rezoning will be placed on the Board of Commissioners’ agenda in March for further review and final action.