LaGRANGE – In the last few years, more and more people have aimed to get back in touch with where their food comes from, and a recent rezoning request by a Troup resident only serves to highlight that desire.

The Troup County Board of Commissioners held its first reading on a request to rezone a 6.31 acre parcel of land on Gabbetville Road from single family residential to agricultural at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

The land was zoned agricultural before the commission rezoned that area in 2008, in anticipation of possible economic development, but the area is presently a mix of large residential lots and agricultural land, so the rezoning would have little effect on the character of the neighborhood. The change in zoning would allow the owner to keep animals as well as provide proper housing for those animals.

“I would like to have it rezoned agricultural, so that I can have a small flock of sheep and some poultry and some rabbits,” said Julie Shellman, the property owner. “My main goal is so that my children can actually see and understand the responsibility of raising animals besides cats and dogs.

“I would also like – if they desire – for them to use this as an opportunity to enter into 4-H or the (Future Farmers of America) programs, and then hopefully it would also act as a way to divert some of their attention from the video games and electronics, and more towards another, I feel, more useful outlet. And then also, have them recognize that eggs don’t come from Kroger.”

The request was unanimously approved by the zoning board, and the commission received no calls in regards to the zoning prior to the meeting. The request is scheduled for a vote on Feb. 7.

The commission also approved a request to place a manufactured housing unit on a lot on Baughs Crossroad at the meeting.

The Troup County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet again on Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. at 100 Ridley Ave.

Reach Alicia B. Hill at alicia.hill@lagrangenews.com or at 706-884-7311, Ext. 2154.