The Hall County Board of Commissioners heard pleas Monday night from Gainesville residents, including Councilwoman Myrtle Figueras, to deny a proposed private landfill off Monroe Drive near Athens Highway.

"We don’t need any more trash on the Southside," Figueras said. "As I’ve said to City Council, if we’re going to locate trash, why not consider Thompson Bridge Road or somewhere besides U.S. 129 South."

On behalf of DOJI Properties LLC, Gainesville engineering firm Rochester & Associates Inc. is seeking to rezone the nearly 51-acre tract to create retail/office/industrial outparcels along U.S. 129 and Monroe Drive and to expand adjoining property that includes an auto salvage site and landfill.

DOJI Properties lists J.A. Walters as its registered agent and 718 Green St., where Walters Management Co. is based., as its principal address, according to the Georgia Secretary of State.

DOJI’s regional impact application with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs cites the project name as Gainesville Salvage Disposal, which sits on property owned by Gov. Nathan Deal and Ken Cronan.

The proposal has drawn fierce opposition from residents, including the Newtown Florist Club, a longtime environmental activist group in the community.

In an Oct. 29 letter to the county planning department, the group’s executive director, Faye Bush, said, "The proposed construction of this site would in effect continue the practice of environmental racism that has produced more than 13 industries within a two-mile radius of our community.

"We believe and have supporting scientific research that shows this policy has created an environmental toxic cocktail that has increased the levels of cancer and illness in our community."

The issue went first to the Hall County Planning Commission, which recommended approval to the Hall County Board of Commissioners.

In Monday night’s meeting at the commission’s new meeting room in the Hall County Government Center, several residents voiced concerns.

"I have to fight between the odor in the morning and the disgust of not having to be able to have services on a Sunday or any given day because of this particular odor," said the Rev. Evelyn Johnson of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, about one mile from the proposed landfill.

Brian Rochester of Rochester & Associates didn’t speak at Monday’s meeting, but he told the planning board on Oct. 15 that "there would be no household garbage coming (to the landfill), so it is being restricted by (current) zoning. It’s only to be used for debris (from the auto salvage business)."

He also said, "What’s important in this (application) is this is not a new landfill — it will only be the expansion of an existing one. All we’re asking for is the exact same zoning that’s next door to us, so we’re not asking for anything that hasn’t been already approved."

The matter likely will be considered for approval after a public hearing at the commission’s regular meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the government center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville.

Commissioner Ashley Bell didn’t say how he’d vote but he did tell the board: "If you’re going to cast a vote ... to approve this particular zoning, I ask that you go to (one of the residents’) house first. Cast a vote with full understanding of the reality that’s on the ground in this particular neighborhood.

"Until you smell it for yourself, then you’re just looking at a map on a screen (in the meeting room) and a zoning in a book. We’re voting on a quality of life for a people that’s been there for a while."

A community meeting on the proposal is set for 7 tonight at the Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 1059 Black Drive, Gainesville.