Dougherty County commissioners moved to deny a request to rezone a residential district to an agricultural district.

The decision was made after a number of concerned residents spoke against the proposed rezoning on Old Dawson Road.

Residents expressed their belief that the change to an agricultural district would effect their health and decrease property value.

The owners requesting the rezoning assured commissioners that those concerns would not be a problem and they only wanted to add a small number of livestock to the property.

In the end commissioners decided to agree with the residents in a 6-1 vote.

“The problem is that anxiety continues to rise from the what if," said Chairman Christopher Cohilas, "This is the problem that I see in my head... Somebody could put and unlimited number of cows and horses out there in a way, such that would disturb the neighbors."

Commissioners did discuss options for the planning committee to work with the property owners to find alternative ways to allow livestock on the land.