Company sought to build temporary worker housing on Antioch Road property with proposed zoning change

A recent request put before the Polk County Commission came back with an astounding “no” from the board last week as a local company was seeking changes to zoning rules that would have allowed them to build facilities for temporary workers in Polk County.

Rambo Nursery sought to get the county to change the rules to allow for temporary housing of foreign workers here in Polk County, but their cause wasn’t helped when they admitted to having 15 workers previously in a residence on the Antioch Road property until “recently.”

The request came before the Polk County Commission first during a public hearing sought to allow for comment for those for and against the zoning rules change.

Rambo sought specifically to allow for the rules to change to allow upward of 45 workers to stay in no more than three buildings that would also require other amenities for temporary workers on the Rambo Nursery property on Antioch Road.

It is a similar arrangement for what the company has in Paulding County at a facility outside of Dallas where workers here in the United States on guest worker visas are quartered.

County Commissioners were given a rundown of what Rambo Nursery wanted from attorney John Hawkins, who told the Commission that as good corporate citizens, their intentions were to ensure that housing and care for the workers was top notch.

Real questions about their intentions arose from Commissioner Ray Carter, who had concerns not just about the housing size requirements, but those who had already been living on the property. Rambo officials while taking questions from commissioners admitted that 15 workers were being housed on the property previously “but not now” since they had already completed their term of employment.

Carter’s asked “what do we want our county to look like?” while pointing out that while Rambo has been expanding and is part of the economic vitality of Polk County, that he didn’t understand why local workers weren’t being considered first for jobs.

“What I have a difficult time with is, given the current problems in the entire immigration system – which is not your fault and there’s nothing any of the folks here can do about it – but the entire system is fueling that fire even further,” Carter said.

He went on to say he didn’t understand how the economics worked out in Rambo’s favor to bring in workers to Polk County with the additional costs that go along with not just paying seasonal workers, but that the intent is right for “how the county grows and thrives and how it impacts your neighbors.”

WATCH: County Commission hears from Rambo, local residents on proposed zoning change

County Commissioners also raised questions about how workers would get to and from either Cedartown or Rockmart (van service is provided, per statements made by Hawkins) and about whether any issues have been raised with local law enforcement involving past workers.

Company management representative at the meeting who didn’t provide their name at the time did address some noise complaints and “one person in the past years” who had gotten into trouble, but were sent home. Management also talked about how the operations provided workers opportunities, but clear rules are in place for worker conduct and anyone who doesn’t comply gets sent home.

Commissioners also wanted to know whether housing would be on the site of Rambo, or whether it would be located elsewhere and employees brought into their operations on Antioch Road. The company has been growing more greenhouse space on Antioch Road since at least beginning of the year.

The request for the zoning change would only fall under A-1 Agriculture zoned properties, and all the normal setbacks for housing and other issues around having 45 people living on a property would be addressed. The zoning change would have included a minimum acreage requirement of 12 acres, and had to apply for a request for a special land use permit.

Additionally, this kind of housing falls under state and federal requirements for what is necessary to build for seasonal workers to live in bunk-style housing (each person is required to have at least 50 square feet of living space.)

The zoning rule change did not specify whether the guest worker housing had to be on the same site as where they were working, which was an additional hang up for the rule change to be made with Commissioner Carter, who didn’t like the leeway it provided with those seeking to add guest worker housing to their properties if they fall in the 12 or more acre requirement.

Local residents also had issues with how Rambo Nursery had already been housing temporary workers on the site without permission, and the damage that might have been done to an existing septic system meant for only a family of no more than six.

When asked, Rambo Nursery’s attorney said they would undertake to ensure that no environmental impact was caused by newer building projects if the Commission gave their final approval for the measure. They didn’t mention any potential impact caused by the previous tenants on the property.

Despite this, the Commission ultimately voted down the measure during their regular session the following night in December 6’s regular session.

Their motion to deny was approved unanimously.

Rambo Nursery will not be able to bring up the issue before the County Commission again for at least Summer 2023 since the request was denied. They can bring a new version of the rule change request be made.