City of Cornelia rejected a request by local business owner Chee Wong’s conditional use application to establish a liquor store, which would’ve gone in by a former Waffle House that’s now a vape shop. Pastor of Level Grove Baptist Church Brian James, who was present during the meeting, had raised prior concerns about the store’s location, which he said was in violation of the state regulation stating that the location of a liquor store can’t be within 200 yards of a school building.
James, who told commissioners at a previous meeting in early July that Level Grove Baptist Church operates a school within the church, explained that Level Grove instructs around 120 students who’re taught a specific curriculum.
Commissioners cited that state law, which provides a loose definition of what’s considered school grounds, as a primary basis for the denial.
“I move that we deny the conditional use application and rezoning based on our ordinance and the distance between the property of the school and the property of the proposed [liquor store],” Commissioner Mark Reed said.
Reed then moved to formalize the denial, which was seconded and the item was denied in a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Tony Cook abstained from voting on the item.
Historical Society calls for inclusion
Executive Director of the Habersham County Historical Society Audrey Davenport also went before the commission, first thanking them for their support for the organization’s upcoming 50th anniversary before going on to call on city officials to commit to greater outreach efforts to the county’s growing but underrepresented Hispanic community.
Davenport announced during the meeting that a special event intended to recognize Hispanics within the community will be taking place in downtown Cornelia during the upcoming Big Red Apple Festival to celebrate diverse cultures and bring greater inclusivity to the city.
“We are doing a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration during the Big Red Apple Festival and also celebrate the Hispanic cultures we have,” Davenport said. “...we’d like to involve as many cultures and communities as we can, and this is our initiative.”
Habersham Central student and the school’s HOPE Chapter President Emily Pahuamba, who proposed the idea of hosting a Hispanic Heritage event in conjunction with the festival, then spoke to commissioners and urged officials to take greater action to ensure the Hispanic community is better included in the mainstream dialogue, stating from her own experience that she’s felt “underrepresented” as a Hispanic resident in the past.
“I’ve lived here for several years now, and as a Hispanic, Latino and Mexican, I sometimes do feel underrepresented,” she said. “I’m hoping that this festival brings communities together.”
The statement by Pahuamba was received with a wave of applause by commissioners and those in attendance.
Borrow said that while the city hasn’t drafted specific plans to reach segments of the city’s Hispanic community, both he and commissioners recognize the need to do so going forward.
“We have been working as a city to try to come up with plans,” Borrow said. “I don’t know if we have anything official right now, but we recognize the value they bring to our town and we’re going to do everything we can to hear their voice, to hear their concern and do what’s right for them, being residents of Cornelia.”
Davenport is requesting a representative from each municipality to participate in the Historical Society’s 50th anniversary event, set to take place in March of next year.
The anniversary is expected to take place at Piedmont University in March of 2023.