Two Revenue Bonds Receive Commissioners' Approval

The Tuesday night gave unanimous approval to all but one of the agenda items brought forward from their morning work session.

The resolution to approve two revenue bonds for a water tank, a hangar at the airport, and a film studio passed on a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Todd Pownall and David Barnett voting against the measure.

With the approving vote, the Industrial Building Authority will be able to issue two bonds in the amount of $1.2 million and $7.2 million. The Series A bond for $1.2 million would fund construction of a new water tank at or near the airport and the Series B bond for $7.2 million would provide funds for a new hangar and a film studio project. ()

An application to rezone two tracts of land for use as a paintball field and retail paintball supply sales ran into some opposition during Tuesday afternoon’s Planning Commission meeting, but ultimately met with approval from the Board of Commissioners.

Mike Lanier asked the commission to approve a request to rezone two parcels, one from residential to a general business district and the other from residential to highway business district. The property is located at 3458 Marietta Highway.

Lanier told the commissioners that he had been in the paintball business for 23 years. "We are customer and safety oriented and have a good family environment," Lanier said. 

"We bring a lot of people into Paulding from churches and corporate groups that might never come in," Lanier added.

Lanier outlined efforts to be used to ensure safety and to also screen the paintball field from view of his neighbors.

Leland cypress trees have been planted and a 20-foot high netting will be used to ensure that none of the paintballs cause a problem for any neighbors. The netting will not be visible from Marietta Highway, according to Lanier.

A neighbor, Linda Paris Williamson, disagreed with the request for rezoning.

Williamson expressed concerns about the paintball field going right up to the property fence line and the effect it might have on cattle that graze in the field.

"I am concerned about noise, the invasive nature of this in our area, and am not convinced the netting will contain the paintballs," Williamson said.

Williamson questioned how the restroom situation would be handled with large numbers of people using the facility. One concern was a possible problem with paint being washed off and then soaking into the ground.

In response, Lanier said he had already been informed that it would be necessary to upgrade to a commercial septic tank. He also responded that all the materials in paintballs are nontoxic, giving as an example how his dog had eaten some of the paintballs and had suffered no adverse effects.

Williamson and some commission members requested more information about the appearance of the paintball field, with Williamson expressing concern that the operation might look like a paintball field off I-20 with buildings and junked cars.

Lanier stated that he might have some small buildings but they would be screened from neighbors. There would be no junked cars or tires in the field.

Williamson and Lanier agreed that there are no residences close by, with the nearest about 1,000 feet away.

Lanier did indicate that he might also allow airsoft pellets at the location. If he does, the pellets will be biodegradable. 

Commission member Thomas Glanton moved to deny the rezoning application but his motion failed due to lack of a second.

After a motion by commission member Teresa Philyaw to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners, the measure passed by a 4-1-1 vote with Glanton voting against.

The Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning request, with six stipulations, during the Tuesday evening meeting. Chairman David Austin cast the no vote.

In the only other business before the commission, Jayson Phillips, attorney for the Board of Commissioners, recommended a change in bylaws for the planning commission.

"The bylaws were last changed in May 1999 and we have had lots of changes since then. The new package you have takes out redundant language in state and county requirements," Phillips said.

Phillips requested a recommendation from the commission to be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for action. Commission members recommended approval of the new bylaws by a 5-0-1 vote and forwarded them to the Board of Commissioners for action.

Unanimous approval of the change was given by the Board of Commissioners during the Tuesday evening meeting.