GAINESVILLE – The Hall County Planning Commission opted Monday evening to recommend for approval the rezoning request of Family Promise of Hall County, to allow for an institutional campus on McEver Road.
Describing the proposed facility as a “homestead campus” in its rezoning application, Family Promise is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit entity that has been in operation since 1986 with facilities in 41 states.
The Planning Commission’s unanimous vote to recommend the project for approval is in contrast to the Planning Commission staff’s recommendation that it be denied.
Commission Chairman Chris Braswell took time to explain why he and his fellow commissioners voted in favor of the rezoning despite the staff’s recommendation to deny. “The staff doesn’t have the luxury of dealing with things as we do. They are dealing with a code that has been around and has been amended on several occasions. The lens they look through is strictly black and white.”
“That’s why we are here,” Braswell said as he gestured to the other commission members, “to help sort some things out and make things a little bit clearer.”
Public comments made in favor of the rezoning application convinced commissioners that the ministry would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
At present the 8.67-acre site is owned by McEver Road United Methodist Church; the congregation plans to relocate and has offered the property for sale for quite some time according to Dr. Rob Bruce, pastor at the church.
“Not only will Family Promise be a good neighbor to the residences close by,” Bruce said, “they will produce good neighbors for the rest of the community.”
Also speaking in favor of the proposed 25-family shelter: Dr. Cynthia Park, Senior Associate Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville whose focus is helping those in need in Hall County; William Oberholtzer, owner of the Oaks Miniature Golf Course across McEver Road from the site; and Hall County teacher and area resident Melissa Hester.
“Family Promise, I would guess, could house eighty people at that site and the neighbors would not even recognize that there’s eighty people there,” Oberholtzer told commissioners. “Please let Family Promise use the building to the best of their ability. I have no fears about what’s going to happen there.”
No one spoke in opposition to the request.
Family Promise Director Lindsey McCamy told commissioners the ministry’s focus is ending homelessness for children and their families in Hall County. “Our mission is to transform children and their families who are experiencing temporary homelessness,” McCamy said.
Final approval for the rezoning application will need to come from the Hall County Commission at its October 10th voting session.
