Tuesday, September 23, 2025–7:35 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Floyd County Commission has voted to deny a rezoning request for the former Model Elementary School property on Burlington Road.
The applicant was seeking a change in the zoning for two parcels from Suburban-Residential to Light-Industrial in order to use the building as a warehouse to store home goods that would be sold on Amazon.
“Staff has concerns mostly about the state of the building and what comes after if that building has to go,” said Rome-Floyd County Planning Director Brice Wood. “There are multiple comments here from the building inspector, fire marshal, etc. The existing building was designed to be a school, and it fits within the neighborhood. If it has to go, the next building is likely to be something metallic. The building is currently a code enforcement case.”
There have also been issues with vermin in the building.
Commissioner Scotty Hancock agreed the property needs to be cleaned up, but he had one major issue with the rezoning.
“They’ve gotten warning, after warning, and a citation, but the property hasn’t been cleaned up,” he said. “Now, it’s going to a sale and I want to be reassured that they’re going to do it, because if they don’t, and the property is forfeited, we’re on the hook for cleaning that property up.”
Hancock added that he didn’t want to see the can kicked down the road and the whole process start again.
“I’m not against the project,” he said. “It definitely needs to be cleaned up, but I feel like I need some reassurance.”
Many may also remember the building as the former location of the church chair.
