In September, the planning commission denied a rezoning request for the entire parcel.

Charles Anderson, Baileyton's state-contract planner, said then that the town's zoning rules prohibit having two unrelated business buildings on the same lot.

Two members of the planning commission said at the September meeting that an auto repair shop is something the town needs; those members were generally sympathetic to the request.

Lamb was told in September to have the property surveyed so that the planning commission could approve dividing it into two lots, for later rezoning of the repair shop lot.

On Thursday, Lamb returned to the commission. He said a survey had been done and the surveyor was to have provided Anderson with a drawing.

However, Lamb did not have a drawing, and Anderson said no surveyor had contacted him.

Mayor Tommy Casteel said after the meeting that he had noticed stakes on the property that indicated a survey had been done.

Without having a plan, however, the board could take no action.

Chairman Rob Bailey said the group could not act without seeing a plan. Anderson agreed, saying it would be unwise to do so.

Lamb then asked how long it would be before he would be able to start on his planned building of 30 feet by 60 feet.

Anderson said the plan could be approved "next month," but noted that the planning commission can only recommend rezoning. He pointed out that the actual zoning change could only be made by the Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen, with two readings required.

Lamb said that, in effect, he was "back to square one," and no closer to having the rezoning he needed than he had been in August. "I've got all my grading work done, and I'm ready to start building," Lamb said.

Jerry and Patricia Hensley, who own a house and lot that adjoin Lamb's land, had begun Thursday's meeting by saying that they objected to Lamb's plans.

The Hensleys said their unoccupied house is next door to the mini-warehouse building. The planned repair garage and store are on the other side of Lamb's property, closer to Horton Highway, and to Porter's Store and Porter's Corner.

It was pointed out that the Hensleys' property is also zoned for business, and has been since the 1980s, even though it is a residence. The house is now vacant and listed for sale.

Planning Commission member Doug Carter asked Anderson for a recommendation.

Anderson said that, "from driving by," the area "seems mostly residential" and "the only real business I see is (Lamb's) mini-storage building," at least on that side of the street.

Lamb then pointed out that Porter's Store, Porter's Corner and Baileyton Restaurant are all in the immediate area, and are all zoned commercial.

Alderman Don Kilday then said he felt the planning commission should "still go with" last month's recommendation that the corner of Lamb's lot be subdivided from the rest of the lot before it is rezoned B-3.

Anderson told the board that B-3 would allow "virtually anything" except mobile homes and industry. Kilday said that zoning a smaller parcel B-3 would give more control over what the land might be used for, should it change hands later.

The Hensleys were asked if that would satisfy their concerns. Jerry Hensley said he could not see a problem with that action, since the portion that would later be rezoned would not adjoin the property he and his wife own.

Bailey then asked Kilday if he would like to make into a formal motion his recommendation about having the property subdivided and then one part of it considered for rezoning.

When Kilday made the motion, it was unanimously approved.