By BECKY CRISSMAN

becky.crissman@gaflnews.com

VIENNA —In spite of protests from citizens who live in various parts of the county, Dooly County Commissioners granted a rezoning request at their meeting Thursday that opens the way for construction of a drag strip north of Unadilla.

Michael Reece of Perry who owns the county property had asked for a zoning change for the property which is located on Hwy. 41 near the Houston County line.

He wants the property rezoned from Agriculture to Commercial. Reece says that about 90 acres of his property is already zoned commercial, but he needs the remainder of the property zoned that way as well.

In order to begin construction of the drag strip Reece must obtain not only the zoning change, but a conditional use permit from the Dooly County Planning Commission.

At a recent public hearing, the Planning Commission denied Reece’ s request for conditional use of the property.

He said he will be filing a written appeal of that decision with the county Commission.

During Thursday’s hearing before the Commissioners, Nelson Dupree spoke on behalf of some of the citizens.

“Some of the residents in that area have been there for over 25 years ,” said Durpree. “They moved there because they wanted peace and quiet. They do not want the noise that this drag strip will bring to the community.”

Dupree went also mentioned the noise a lack of mufflers will produce.

Reece’s argument was that the noise from a drag strip is not the same as a regular race track.

“Cars are only on the track for 8 to 10 seconds and then the noise stops,” he said. “Most of the noise is going to travel out to the interstate.”

Reece even offered to plant Leland Cypress trees four deep to help block noise. He agreed that he would not plan races when activities are taking place at the churches in the area.