Fayette County OKs zoning for Zac Brown's children's camp

By David Ibata

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The leader of a popular country music band based in Atlanta won a zoning change Thursday night from the Fayette County Board of Commissioners to let him build a seasonal camp for special needs children.

Enlarge photo

Robb Cohen, www.robbsphotos.com Zac Brown and the Zac Brown Band perform at Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta.

Enlarge photo

Camp Southern Ground website Architect's drawing depicts Camp Southern Ground, a proposed seasonal camp for special-needs children that Grammy Award-winning musician Zac Brown wants to build near Ebenezer Church and Arnold roads in unincorporated Fayette County east of Peachtree City.

More Atlanta area news »

• Suicide call leads to pot bust
• Not all cheating the same at APS
• Sneiderman battle recalls 1989 saga
• Citizen Review Board under scrutiny

The plan had encountered opposition from some neighbors concerned over traffic and noise, Channel 2 Action News reports.

Zac Brown, Grammy Award-winning leader of the Zac Brown Band, appeared before Fayette commissioners to talk about his plan for Camp Southern Ground, to be created on 500 acres he’s donating to the project, and to request the zoning change.

The land had been zoned for residential and agricultural. Brown's group wants the zoning changed to allow a retreat or lodge. Commissioners approved the zoning request on a 5-0 vote, according to Carol Chandler, executive assistance to the board.

It's hoped that construction can begin early next year. The project is proposed for land off Ebenezer Church Road and Arnold Road in the unincorporated county east of Peachtree City.

Before the zoning vote, Brooks Buckner told Channel 2 that the children's camp would be "a good thing," but, "We want to keep it quiet around (here)."  The area, he said, "is very rural, and a lot of people would be coming in and out."

Camp spokeswoman Jean Peck told Channel 2, "I really hope that after a year of the camp up and running, that people will say, ‘Camp? What camp? I don't even know it's out there.' That's really our goal."

Brown says on the project’s website that “Camp Southern Ground will work with special needs children while providing them with lodging and facilities to most effectively contribute to their rehabilitation.”

The website says the camp would serve children ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette's Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Programs would include canoeing, horseback riding, swimming, zip lines, rock climbing, organic gardening, hiking, music, arts and crafts and organized games.