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Franklin County approves rezoning and lot-size variance for two Unawatti Road tracts

The county's approval lets the Sheets family build two houses on Rural Residential lots near Canon, one of them smaller than the district's standard minimum size.

By NEGA Brief Newsroom

The story

Josh Sheets, along with property owners Joshua, Debbie and Shaun Sheets, applied to rezone two tracts on Unawatti Road in Canon from Agricultural General to Rural Residential: a +/- 1.43-acre tract at 165 Unawatti Rd and a +/- 1.14-acre tract at 199 Unawatti Rd. Because the 165 Unawatti Rd tract is smaller than the Rural Residential district's 1.5-acre minimum lot size, the applicants also sought a variance from that dimensional requirement.

SourcesJuly 07, 2025, Board of Commissioners Public Hearing Meeting Agenda. Agenda

On July 7, 2025, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the rezonings of both tracts and the variance for the 165 Unawatti Rd lot, on condition that the two houses to be built on the properties be parallel with the existing structures for uniformity.

SourcesJuly 07, 2025, Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Agenda. Minutes

Records from a July 17, 2025 Franklin County Planning Commission meeting also show 5-0 approval of the rezoning of both the 165 Unawatti Rd and 199 Unawatti Rd tracts and the variance allowing the 165 Unawatti Rd lot to be rezoned Rural Residential without meeting the 1.5-acre minimum.

SourcesJuly 17, 2025, Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Agenda (PDF). Minutes

What happened

How this issue got here

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Approved
confirmed

Rezoning at 199 Unawatti Rd, Canon from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (Sheets)

for a +/- 1.14 -acre tract located at 199 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520; District 3 (Map/Parcel 055/027/03). Proposed use: Residential Board of Commissioners voted to approve 5-0

Approved
confirmed

Rezoning at 165 Unawatti Rd, Canon from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (Sheets)

for a +/- 1.43 -acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520; District 3 (Map/Parcel 055/027/04). Proposed use: Residential Board of Commissioners voted to approve 5-0

Approved
unknown

Rezoning at 199 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (RZ-2025-011)

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.14 -acre tract located at 199 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520; District 3 (Map/Parcel 055/027/03)

Approved
unknown

Rezoning at 165 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (RZ-2025-010)

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.43 -acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520; District 3 (Map/Parcel 055/027/04). Proposed use: Residential Board of Commissioners voted to approve 5-0

Approved
confirmed

Variance for 165 Unawatti Rd tract to rezone to Rural Residential without meeting 1.5-acre minimum (Sheets)

To rezone to Rural Residential (RR) without meeting the 1.5 acre minimum requirements. The property consists of a +/- 1.43 acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520; District 3 (Map/Parcel 055/027/04). Board of Commissioners voted to approve 5-0

Approved
unknown

Variance for 165 Unawatti Rd Rural Residential minimum acreage (V-2025-007)

To rezone to Rural Residential (RR) without meeting the 1.5 acre minimum requirements. The property consists of a +/- 1.43 acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Variance for 165 Unawatti Rd to allow RR rezoning below 1.5-acre minimum - Sheets

V-2025-007 Variance: Josh Sheets, applicant and Joshua Sheets, Debbie Sheets, and Shaun Sheets, Property Owners have filed an application for a Variance

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Variance for 165 Unawatti Rd Rural Residential dimensional requirement (V-2025-007)

To rezone to Rural Residential (RR) without meeting the 1.5 acre minimum requirements

Discussed
discussed

V-2025-007 Variance from 1.5-acre minimum lot size requirement for Rural Residential rezoning at 165 Unawatti Rd

Variance to the Unified Development Code, Chapter 2, “Zoning Districts and Official Zoning Map”, “RR, Rural Residential District,” “Dimensional requirements”

Approved
confirmed

Rezone/Variance applications RZ-2025-010, V-2025-007, RZ-2025-011, V-2025-008 for residential lots on Unawatti Rd, Canon (Sheets)

Motion to Approve with the condition that the two houses being built will be parallel with the existing structures so to be uniform: Commissioner Pulliam

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rezone 199 Unawatti Rd, Canon, from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (RZ-2025-011)

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.14 -acre tract located at 199 Unawatti Rd

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rezone 165 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) - Sheets

RZ-2025-010 Rezone: Josh Sheets, applicant and Joshua Sheets, Debbie Sheets, and Shaun Sheets, Property Owners have filed an application for Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR)

Discussed
discussed

RZ-2025-010 Rezone 165 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR), 1.43 acres, applicant Josh Sheets

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.43 -acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rezone 165 Unawatti Rd, Canon, from Agricultural General to Rural Residential (RZ-2025-010)

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.43 -acre tract located at 165 Unawatti Rd

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rezone 199 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) - Sheets

RZ-2025-011 Rezone: Josh Sheets, applicant and Joshua Sheets, Debbie Sheets, and Shaun Sheets, Property Owners have filed an application for Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR)

Discussed
discussed

RZ-2025-011 Rezone 199 Unawatti Rd from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR), 1.14 acres, applicant Josh Sheets

Rezone from Agricultural General (AG) to Rural Residential (RR) for a +/- 1.14 -acre tract located at 199 Unawatti Rd Canon, GA 30520

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