MOULTRIE — Tuesday night brought the first defeat of a proposed development in the county under the new zoning laws.

Land developer James Watson abandoned his request at a public hearing to rezone a tract outside of Doerun after more than 20 Thigpen Trail area residents attended in opposition. Watson said he backed off out of goodwill.

Watson, of SOWEGA Land Co., Inc., had proposed to rezone the nearly 25-acre tract from agriculture to residential area that would have allowed mobile homes, R-1 MH. His plans were to split the tract into 13 lots of more than an acre each at the corner of Ga. Highway 270 West and Thigpen Trail.

Last week, the planning commission had rejected the rezoning request, and it ultimately came before the county commission for final say-so.

Speaking for the opposition at the public hearing, resident Wanda Oliver complained of mobile homes in the area that aren’t maintained well. A subdivision of mobile homes would adversely affect surrounding property values.

“If we continue to allow this in our county, we’re just about to become a dumping site on our side of the county,” she said.

Oliver said the residents were not against a subdivision of stick-built homes. Watson first had offered commissioners an amended plat with restrictions for only new mobile homes with requirements of foundations and proper skirting. He also offered to establish covenants for upkeep in deference to the neighbors’ feelings.

But the residents pressed their concerns further. They questioned how Watson could ensure covenants would be followed.

One resident poked at a mobile home park developed by Watson’s father in Worth County that she knew to be “run down.” Some residents voiced concerns over what sort of people would move into the area.

“I would argue that mobile homes don’t have a corner on the trashy department,” Watson said, pointing out that many mobile homes look nicer than stick-built homes.

Aaron Cane sold the property to Watson. He now is disappointed, he said, that the property, although offered now for more than 500 percent what he sold it for hasn’t been maintained and is wary of what kind of development would result. He also told commissioners that some bordering roads were in poor condition.

“If what he’s going to do 20 years from now is going to look like what he’s done now, what are we going to live with?” said another landowner.

“I’m a little surprised to find I am such a sorry individual,” Watson said in his defense.

Later, an oppposing resident said they weren’t attacking Watson directly, they knew him to a good person but were simply opposing a mobile home development at that property.

He only learned of opposition when the planning commission didn’t recommend the development, he said, and tried to make concessions to appease neighboring landowners.

After the meeting, Watson’s wife, Mary Beth Watson, said that the residents now will be less protected under agricultural zoning rather than the more strict residential zoning. She was concerned that residents viewed a mobile home subdivision as a trailer park, noting the offer of restrictions and covenants and the fact that no lots were less than an acre.

Watson told The Observer he plans to leave the property zoned agriculture and split it for sale under those regulations. He doesn’t intend to build a subdivision for stick-built homes, he said.

Zoning Officer John Peters said that a tract can be divided up to four times before the county would require a subdivision development.