Tifton Zoning Commission approves District 3 rezoning, plans outreach center

TIFTON, Ga. – Tifton’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the action of rezoning a section of District 3 to create an outreach center for those in need.

“It’s been something that I’ve been wanting to do for many years and I finally had the opportunity becoming a councilman and then having the resources and the location,” said Lester Cromer, Jr., Tifton City Councilman.

Although the Anthony Bateman Youth Center is in District 3, Cromer believes that this outreach center will be a more convenient place for residents on the opposite side of District 3.

“My district is pretty large and so not all of the resources can’t get to both sides of the district, so I decided to put my money where my mouth was and put forth the effort of curating an outreach center for that area of the district,” said Cromer.

Tifton Zoning and Planning Commission Chair Frank Sayles tells me this outreach center could greatly benefit the community.

“It had been a church there and so he wants to do an outreach center and possibly an event center in the future and we thought that worked well with the neighborhood and what’s there,” said Frank Sayles, Chairman of the Tifton Zoning and Planning Commission.

Sayles only had one primary concern.

“Going from residential to general business not with what Mr. Cromer wants to do but what that opens up in the future in case he ever leaves that property could be open to anything coming in,” said Sayles.

But, according to Cromer, he’s not going anywhere as he has bigger goals in mind for this location.

“The long-term goal is for me to be able to build a three story facility, I think that will be valuable for the community as well,” said Cromer.

If approved by the Tifton City Council, Cromer’s outreach center could host multiple non-profit organizations as well.

“The location would be a resource for other non profit to be able to come in and do things that they want to do for their own non-profits I just want to provide the roof for them as well,” said Cromer.

Cromer says his ambition and drive for community service comes from his father.

“He’s been doing community service my entire life, so it is in honor of him is where I felt that I would pick up the mantle and keep running for it,” said Cromer.

The Tifton City Council will vote on this proposal on September 17th.

Cameron Sanders reporting.

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