The rezoning vote itself is completed and confirmed in the Board of Commissioners minutes. What follows remains only a possibility: WNEG Radio, citing Pauley, reported that plans could come later, but neither the minutes nor the report identifies a neighborhood design, lot count, construction activity, conditions attached to the rezoning or a filed plat application. The official record confirms the vote, not a development timetable.
IssueStephens Countyapproved
Stephens County approves Howington Farms rezoning, leaving any subdivision for later review
The unanimous July 28 vote changes the zoning of a Nub Garland Road parcel, but no neighborhood layout or plat application has been presented.
What happens next
The next public decision point would come if Howington Farms submits a subdivision plat. The Planning Commission and commissioners would then review the proposed layout and related approvals. Until an application is filed, residents do not know whether the company will pursue a subdivision, what it would look like, or when any further public hearing or vote might occur.
Corrections
Attached only the reviewed zoning map and site plan that match Howington Farms Parcel 023 132.
Story history
Updates and corrections
Earlier published versions remain available here. The civic timeline below records what government did; this archive records how our published account changed.
- Updated
Howington Farms rezoning reportedly approved, but official county outcome remains unrecorded
The published Issue changed after new evidence or editorial review.
Read version 2 - Updated
Howington Farms rezoning reportedly approved, but official county outcome remains unrecorded
Initial durable snapshot of the published Issue.
Read version 1
At a glance
What this means now
The story
Stephens County commissioners unanimously approved Howington Farms, LLC’s request to rezone Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road in Toccoa at their July 28 meeting, according to the Board of Commissioners minutes. The action changes the property’s classification from Agricultural Residential to Residential Single, a decision WNEG Radio reported the following day as applying to 46 acres and as potentially opening the way for future residential plans.
SourcesBoard Of Commissioners Minutes 07/28/2026WNEG Radio: Stephens County Commission approves rezoning of Howington Farms
Property at a glance
Where the proposal is located
Open full sizeThe packet includes a zoning map.
Open full sizeThe packet includes a submitted site plan.
- Tax parcel
- 023 132
- Proposed use
- Residential Single zoning for residential development
Map note: The exhibits are for general location and proposal context. Source: July 7, 2026 Planning Commission packet.
The vote matters because it changes the rules governing a particular tract in an existing residential area. Residential Single zoning may make a housing proposal possible, but rezoning is not approval to build one: no specific residential development plan or later plat-review application is described in the official minutes. Any subdivision would require its own review of the proposed layout before both the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners.
The request first came before the Planning Commission on July 7, when members heard Howington Farms’ proposal to change the Nub Garland Road parcel’s zoning for residential development. Those minutes record staff support and comments from the applicant but no Planning Commission action. The matter then advanced to the commissioners’ July 28 agenda, where it was scheduled for consideration; the board’s later minutes record a motion by Commissioner Simmons, a second by Commissioner Wright and unanimous approval.
Howington Farms sought the change from Agricultural Residential to Residential Single. County Planner Jeanne Pauley told WNEG Radio that the parcel is odd-shaped, sits in a residential neighborhood and had Agricultural Residential zoning that could allow uses such as chicken houses but was too close to residents for that use as it stood. Pauley said the applicant had not yet submitted a proposal or plan for a residential neighborhood and was seeking to determine whether such a project was possible.
The rezoning vote itself is completed and confirmed in the Board of Commissioners minutes. What follows remains only a possibility: WNEG Radio, citing Pauley, reported that plans could come later, but neither the minutes nor the report identifies a neighborhood design, lot count, construction activity, conditions attached to the rezoning or a filed plat application. The official record confirms the vote, not a development timetable.
The next public decision point would come if Howington Farms submits a subdivision plat. The Planning Commission and commissioners would then review the proposed layout and related approvals. Until an application is filed, residents do not know whether the company will pursue a subdivision, what it would look like, or when any further public hearing or vote might occur.
Arguments in the record
Positions presented publicly
Howington Farms sought Residential Single zoning for Parcel 023 132, a change that may permit future residential planning but does not itself approve a subdivision.
Jeanne Pauley told WNEG Radio that no residential-neighborhood proposal had yet been submitted and that a future subdivision would need plat review by both county bodies.
Local reporting
Reporting cited in this story
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
ApprovedconfirmedCommissioners unanimously approved Howington Farms rezoning
On July 28, 2026, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Howington Farms, LLC’s rezoning request for Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road. Commissioner Simmons moved to approve and Commissioner Wright seconded the motion.
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Commissioners unanimously approved Howington Farms rezoning
On July 28, 2026, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Howington Farms, LLC’s rezoning request for Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road. Commissioner Simmons moved to approve and Commissioner Wright seconded the motion.
Appeared on agendaproposedCommissioners scheduled to consider Howington Farms rezoning
The Board of Commissioners’ July 28, 2026 agenda listed Howington Farms, LLC’s rezoning request for Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road for consideration.
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Commissioners scheduled to consider Howington Farms rezoning
The Board of Commissioners’ July 28, 2026 agenda listed Howington Farms, LLC’s rezoning request for Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road for consideration.
DiscusseddiscussedPlanning Commission heard Howington Farms rezoning request
On July 7, 2026, the Planning Commission heard Howington Farms, LLC’s request to rezone Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road from Agricultural Residential to Residential Single for residential development. The minutes list staff support and applicant comment but no commission action.
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Planning Commission heard Howington Farms rezoning request
On July 7, 2026, the Planning Commission heard Howington Farms, LLC’s request to rezone Parcel 023 132 on Nub Garland Road from Agricultural Residential to Residential Single for residential development. The minutes list staff support and applicant comment but no commission action.
Still unresolved
What is not yet known
These are evidence gaps, not assumptions. They remain open until a dependable source closes them.
- The official minutes confirm the rezoning vote but do not describe a specific residential development plan or a later plat-review application.
Newsroom notes1 open check on the record
How the newsroom is still working this matter. These are process notes, not reported facts.
- outcome checkOfficial minutes or item results for the July 28, 2026 meeting are published; as of September 2, 2026 they were checked and no recorded action on this specific item was matched.Check the official sources again on October 2, 2026.
Research the record