Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry and challenger Andy Allan continue to spar over the county’s efforts to control commercial subdivision developments.  The commissioner says that his latest Chattooga County Subdivision Ordinance takes care of issues that presented themselves with his quickly adopted Land Use Ordinance back in 2022.  Allan says that he too believes that the county needs to be able to control commercial subdivisions, but wants the voters of the county to approve any land use or subdivision ordinance.

Four years ago, Commissioner Elsberry also said that he was in favor of the voters approving any land use or subdivision ordinance.  Elsberry made the comments during a Republican Primary Runoff debate between himself and then-Commissioner Jason Winters.  Earlier this year, Elsberry said that he had to adopt a land use ordinance in 2022 because of an emergency situation. (See related article from WZQZ).  The commissioner also said that his new subdivision ordinance would “protect property buyers from fraud”.  However, the county’s attorney seems to disagree with the commissioner on that point. (See related article from WZQZ)

Andy Allan has promised to repeal Elsberry’s subdivision ordinance if he is elected.  Allan issued a statement saying, “Any Land Ordinance that my administration would propose will go on the next county-wide election ballot for the voters to decide if it meets their expectations. It would be advertised and I would host public meetings for actual public input before the ordinance is slated for approval. I along with the county attorney will attend the meetings with the public to seek suggestions, take comments, and answer questions ahead of any decisions that will be made that would impact county citizens”.