The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners has approved an exemption request allowing a recreation and vacation camp proposal to proceed despite the county’s moratorium on residential developments.
The proposed project, located at 3601 Ga. Highway 212 SE in Conyers, Georgia, plans to introduce three glamping sites across a 20-acre wooded parcel.
Each site would accommodate up to four guests and allow one vehicle per location. The proposal includes outdoor fireplaces designed for safe recreational use and utilizes an existing lake on the property.
The total occupancy across the three sites is expected to be 12 people, according to The Citizens.
Rockdale County enacted a moratorium on residential development in March 2025, aiming to pause new residential growth while broader planning reviews take place.
However, applicant Che Tuma and property owner Timothy Glenn argued that their project should be exempt, stating that the nature of the camp is recreational, not residential.
Glenn filed a formal request for exemption on April 28. During the board’s meeting, Planning and Development Director Lashawn Gardner stated that staff recommended denial, asserting the glamping sites would “qualify as a residential structure that would provide living and habitable conditions.”
Despite this recommendation, the exemption request was allowed to proceed to a public hearing.
Commissioner Tuwanya Smith moved to deny the request, but the motion did not receive a second. Chair JanNice Van Ness and Commissioner Doreen Williams voted to move the project forward to the public review stage, while Smith opposed.
This development is part of a growing trend in rural land use where property owners are turning to glamping and nature-based accommodations as an alternative to permanent residential construction.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this case highlights the importance of clear zoning definitions and the potential role of local policy in shaping development opportunities.
When residential moratoriums are in place, distinguishing between temporary recreational use and permanent habitation may be key to securing project approvals.