Franklin BOC Approves Controversial Planned Poultry Farm Near Hospital

A controversial proposed poultry operation near Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center got the go-ahead from Franklin County Commissioners Monday night, despite the objections of those living near and next to the property.

David Brown owns 25 acres on SR59 near Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center.  He plans to build two-story laying houses on the land he says his family has owned and farmed for generations.

In two presentations to the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission, Brown outlined his plans to ensure the houses and the subsequent odors they will emit would not be a nuisance to his neighbors, but neighbors aren’t buying it.

During the public comment section of the Monday’s regular Board of Commission meeting, one neighbor after another again voiced their opposition.

Larry Brannen and his family have been against the poultry farm from the beginning.  Brannen said his family is looking to their future and the economic future of the area.

“I feel like there’s going to be future businesses that are going to come in and help support that hospital,” Brannen said. “We feel like this chicken farm is going to be a hindrance. To the Brown family: I don’t know if this really matters to you, but we’re looking at our future. Not everyone in Franklin County is a chicken farmer or wants to be.”

Brown told the Board the land had always been a farm and he will take steps to make sure neighbors or the hospital are not affected.

“We are looking at our future. This is family land,” Brown said. “I grew up there raising pigs with Papa. We didn’t just move into the community and wanted to stir everything up. The fact gentlemen is, we meet all of the Franklin County requirements.”

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved the poultry house plan back in 2006, long before there were any plans to build a hospital nearby.

Before the vote was taken, Commissioner Jeff Jacques exhorted the Brown family to be considerate of their neighbors.

“I would implore you to consider the fact that this County, the City of Lavonia and residents have put in a tremendous amount of resources to develop this area into an economic engine; into an area that would provide regional healthcare services,” Jacques pointed out. “I don’t think there’s any doubt whatsoever that what’ you’re proposing, while legal, would significantly and adversely impact the area from a healthcare standpoint, from an economic standpoint and from the quality of life of the current residents.”

Commissioner David Strickland also noted that after meeting with the Browns, they are willing to sell the land and the house that sits on it for $300,000 if a buyer approaches them before they begin to build.

“But that is before they turn any dirt,” Strickland said. “If they start to turn dirt, the price will go up.”

But Commission Chair Thomas Bridges, who is also a poultry farmer, said Franklin County is a poultry farming county, and the Brown land is zoned agricultural and meets all of the requirements legally for having a chicken operation.

Bridges said in his opinion the Brown chicken farm will not affect the sale of Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center to St. Mary’s Healthcare.

“I pick up no indication that this is going to affect the deal with St. Mary’s,” Bridges said. “No matter which way it goes, it’s not going to affect it from all indications that I’ve received, which is a blessing.”

After hearing from Bridges, the board voted unanimously to approve the poultry farm.