For the third consecutive meeting, the Bethlehem Town Council discussed Craig Cole’s new store, It’s a Wonderful Life, at 812 Christmas Ave.

Last month the council held a called meeting to expedite Cole’s rezone application, but the county’s planning office hadn’t sent any recommendations about the property to the council. Without the recommendations, the council decided to rezone the property from an agricultural to commercial district, but stipulated the rezone was contingent upon the planning department’s suggested approval.

So Monday night, Cole returned to the council meeting. The council had received the planning department’s report, which included recommendations that would require Cole to install curb and gutter, as well as a paved parking lot and driveway.

In previous meetings, Cole has made it clear that he does not want to pave the lot, but would prefer to leave a more natural look that compliments the house’s historical value. The home was previously used as a church, and Cole – having received the rezone approval and a business permit – has opened a gift shop in the house.

"I don’t see any reason to pave this in this instance," Council member Jeff Longino said. But if a Waffle House were to move in there, he’d have a different opinion, he said.

The town’s attorney Ron Bennett told the council members that if they wanted to permit a gravel lot for the gift shop, it would only be permissible if that continued to be the property’s use.

"When the use changes, it would come back to the council," Bennett said. "It doesn’t bind any future use."

Mayor Sandy McNab said the council will vote on allowing the gravel parking lot at its December meeting, when Cole will have to return with recommendations from the Georgia Department of Transportation, which the county planning department also recommended.

At its regular October meeting, the council discussed the property at 0 Wiseman Lane, which Eddie Butler has used to store vehicles – a violation of the property’s current zoning district, according to Bennett.

The attorney sent Butler a letter in early October to tell him his property was not in compliance and the vehicles must be removed or Butler must file for a rezone. At this week’s meeting, Bennett said he had not received a rezone application from Butler to bring the property into compliance.

McNab told Bennett to let Butler know that his property is not in compliance and the cars must be removed.

The council was also scheduled to discuss Harley Morris’ request to get a peddler vending permit to sell boiled peanuts. McNab said the town has never issued a peddler permit.

Council member Scott Morgan suggested the town’s permits be restricted to one location for one year. But Morris hadn’t specified where he’d like to sell the peanuts, so the council decided to hold off on the issue until its December meeting which will be Dec. 7.