Jail financing, four rezonings await Metro Council

Officials will weigh a $983,498 financing proposal for jail renovation and zoning changes affecting more than 32 acres

8:50 a.m. July 20, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The Metro Council will consider authorizing up to $983,498 in borrowing for the Moore County Jail renovation at its meeting on Monday.

The resolution would allow the county to finance construction, equipment, and related costs through general obligation capital outlay notes with a repayment term of up to 12 years.

FirstBank submitted the lowest of four interest-rate quotes at 4.01%. Based on that rate, the county would repay approximately $1.26 million through 2038, including about $274,545 in interest.

Council members will also consider four rezoning requests, including one tied to a proposed residential subdivision at 3152 Tanyard Hill Road.

• Meeting Agenda

Tanyard Hill request advances

Joe Denby and Jennifer Savage are seeking to rezone 23.25 acres from A-1, Agriculture-Forestry, to R-2, Residential District-Rural Center.

The change would allow residential lots smaller than the five-acre minimum required under A-1 zoning.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request during a special-called meeting on Friday, July 17.

The proposal has raised questions about both the county’s rezoning process and sight distance at a planned subdivision entrance near a curve.

Denby said surveying, soil work, and other development steps had been completed before the applicants were told the property needed to be rezoned. The disagreement prompted questions about whether county materials clearly explain the steps required before subdivision approval.

Highway Department Superintendent Shannon Cauble also raised concerns that vegetation or future construction could obstruct the view from the proposed entrance. An engineer is expected to evaluate the driveway and available sight distance.

Three additional rezonings

Kaycee and Steven Edwards are seeking to rezone 2.5 acres on Woosley Road from A-1 to R-2.

Rodney and Jennifer Ervin are requesting that 2.35 acres along Highway 55 be rezoned from A-1 to C-1, Commercial District-Highway. A site plan labeled “Lynchburg Storage” shows rows of storage units with access from the highway.

Both requests are scheduled for first reading.

A fourth request, from Simmjo LLC and Joey Simmons, will return for a second reading. The applicants are seeking to rezone 4.97 acres on Pleasant Hill Road from A-1 to R-2.

• Council members will also discuss a request from Dale McGee to return the road serving 77 Lewis McGee Rd. to private ownership and rename it Richard McGee Road.

McGee said the road was made public so the county could maintain it and school buses could serve residents of three occupied homes. Only one occupied rental home remains, and school buses no longer use the road.

• The agenda also includes a proposed cease-and-desist form for zoning and subdivision violations. The notice would identify an alleged violation, establish a deadline for corrective action, and warn of possible fines or legal action.

A public hearing begins at 6:20 p.m. Monday at the American Legion, 119 Booneville Hwy. in Lynchburg. The regular Metro Council meeting follows at 6:30 p.m.