Tucker, GA — Tucker Zoning Board of Appeals on April 20 finalized the denial of an appeal filed by Tucker Towing. A letter written by ZBA vice chair Neal Stubblefield states that after conducting a public hearing and considering evidence submitted by the appellant, Tucker Towing, ZBA members denied the appeal in a unanimous vote 5-0.  

Last month, the ZBA denied Tucker Towing legal non-conforming status over storage of vehicles on a lot adjacent to Tucker Towing, upholding a recommendation by Tucker city staff. The decision came after months of delay due to COVID-19 court closures.

Tucker Towing claimed the denial of nonconforming status by Courtney Smith, Tucker Planning and Zoning Director, was based on an erroneous finding of a material fact, erroneously applied zoning ordinance to the facts, or that Smith acted in an arbitrary manner. 

ZBA shot down this notion, adding that Tucker Towing failed to submit a written lease and a current Occupational Tax Certificate for the property. 

Tucker Towing, operating from 3815 Lawrenceville Highway, has been parking vehicles behind Mower Menders, 3823 Lawrenceville Highway, since 2005, using the adjacent lot to store dozens of vehicles from semitrailer cabs to coupes as well as tires, according to photographs.

Tucker Towing is owned by Jerry Lamb. In September 2020, city staff denied a request to maintain former code, or “grandfather” the property, and denied a request to use the property for storage of towed vehicles. Tucker Towing has unsuccessfully tried to appeal the ZBA’s decisions since October 2020. 

In other news:

• Tucker City Council members held a special called meeting on April 19 to workshop the budget for Fiscal Year 2022. To balance the budget, finance director Robert Porche suggested cutting back on personnel and project requests, delaying funding of capital projects and using reserves. The final budget will be presented in May. 
• The next Tucker City Council is on April 26. It will take place in a hybrid format, allowing both online and in-person participants.