LULA, Ga. — Lula’s City Council voted September 15 to annex and rezone more than 34 acres off Julian Baugh Road, allowing a local contractor to consolidate operations on the site.
The property, a 40-acre tract owned by Windsel Martin, lies on the northern edge of Hall County near Lula. It sits in the countryside many locals describe as some of the most serene in Northeast Georgia, where narrow two-lane roads curve through pastures, pine woods, and seasonal wildflowers.
The request
Ryals Brothers Properties, LLC, owned by J. Casey and Joshua Ryals of Gainesville, petitioned the city on June 27 to annex 34.34 acres of the property and rezone it from agricultural use (Hall County AR-1) to Lula’s light industrial district (M-1).
The brothers intend to relocate and consolidate their contractor business, which now operates on County Line Road, Main Street, and Banks Street. Under Georgia’s “100 percent method” of annexation, all property owners must consent. Because Martin approved, Hall County relinquished jurisdiction, and the Lula Council was able to act.
The case for annexation
In their application and presentation, Ryals Brothers argued that the project will improve safety and reduce congestion in downtown Lula. Truck routes currently send heavy equipment through Athens Street. Consolidation on Julian Baugh Road would redirect that traffic toward Highway 52 and Highway 365.
They also pointed to economic benefits. About 100 employees already working for the company would be based inside Lula city limits, broadening the tax base and bringing more local spending. Supporters highlighted the brothers’ reputation as employers who give people chances and invest in their community.
Casey Ryals said his intention is to “do something good for Lula.” Amanda Browning of Amanda’s Farm to Fork described him as “an incredibly sweet man.”
The brothers stressed design as well as function. Their proposed facility, they said, would not be a bare-bones metal building but a brick structure with black trim, styled to match Lula’s downtown storefronts. They pointed to their past renovations as evidence of that commitment.
Residents’ concerns
Opposition came from residents on and around Julian Baugh Road. Several even expressed a sense of being “bait-and-switched.” They had purchased property in an area zoned for residential, agricultural, and light industrial uses, only to now see it targeted for heavier industrial development.
Speaking for his family, a resident named Adam Welker questioned the environmental impact. Julian Baugh Road lacks city plumbing, and homes rely on septic systems. He worried leach fields could drain into groundwater. He argued that zoning should match infrastructure rather than being retrofitted. His gravest concern, he said, was preserving the character of the neighborhood. He contrasted the proposal with Mar-Jac, an established industrial facility set back from view with proper road access.
Alicia Martinez raised traffic concerns. She described the “S-bends” and narrow residential stretches of Julian Baugh Road, which has no white lines. Even Amazon trucks, she said, force drivers to swerve aside. Once, she had to pull over for a truck towing a boat; she said she had also watched school buses and other large vehicles struggle to navigate the country lane. Martinez warned that industrial traffic would multiply the risks. She also argued that Lula does not need to “join the industrial revolution” taking place elsewhere in Hall County.
Martinez further urged the council to require independent traffic and environmental studies — not ones commissioned by the developer — to measure the project’s impact “prudently, accurately, and sustainably.”
A business owner’s view
Local business owner Amanda Browning of Amanda’s Farm to Fork added her voice to the opposition. She noted that the Ryals Brothers were requesting to move the property from AR-1 Agricultural to M-1 Light Industrial, and questioned whether that was the type of growth Lula should pursue.
“People want grocery stores, restaurants, and places to take their families,” she said, adding that she “stands for the character of this community and the beautiful area we call home.”
Browning pointed to comments from Planning Committee member Bruce Lane, who wrote: “I have been following the rezoning and variance requests for these projects. I feel they have put the cart before the horse. They have not done their due diligence in conducting traffic studies or updating infrastructure such as water, sewer, and drainage. I would like to see a six-month moratorium on development in this area until the studies have been done to show the impact. Developers should fund the infrastructure upgrades and create better accessibility.”
Browning said she agreed wholeheartedly with Lane’s position, including the call for developers themselves to fund infrastructure improvements.
“Lula deserves thoughtful, responsible growth,” she said. “Not rushed decisions that risk changing the character of our community forever.”
What M-1 allows
Now that the property has been rezoned, it falls under Lula’s M-1 Light Industrial code. Permitted uses include contractor shops, warehouses, welding and machine shops, pest control businesses, sign shops, kennels, and automotive services. The code bars nuisances such as smoke, odor, and vibration and requires compliance with safety standards.
Divided but sincere
The debate reflected a genuine divide. Supporters see economic growth, safer truck routes, and attractive design. Opponents see environmental risks, unsafe roads, and the loss of rural character.
In most instances, both sides said they are acting in the best interest of Lula’s residents.
