The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, May 4 at the meeting room (105 Union Point Road, Lexington).
A proposed wedding venue on Comer Road moved one step closer to reality after the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board approved a rezoning request at its April 16 meeting.
Owners Nelida and Greg Serrano, who attended the meeting, requested the rezone from agricultural residential to highway business.
The project must still receive final approval from the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners, which is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. May 4. The meeting will include an opportunity for public comment.
For Nelida Serrano, the zoning board’s decision marks a significant step toward a long-held dream.
After 16 years in banking, she said the stress and fast pace of the industry led her to search for a creative outlet. She took on a part-time job as a floral designer and quickly discovered both a talent and a passion for the work.
After eight years designing floral arrangements, the idea of owning her own wedding venue began to take shape.
“I decided just to quit my job, but my dream is to have a venue for my own,” she said. “So now, we are working to reach that dream together with my husband, because he’s a very supportive person.”
The couple has spent roughly six years working toward opening a venue. They initially purchased land in Ringgold, Georgia, but later discovered much of the property was prone to flooding.
After selling that land, they resumed their search. Two years later, Greg found their current property at 548 Comer Road in Crawford.
The site includes a barn that once housed 11 horses and a trailer. Since purchasing the property, the Serranos have begun renovating both structures.
Nelida said she is transforming the trailer into a bridal suite, which is nearly complete with only final touches, such as furniture, remaining.
“I want to do what the brides deserve,” Nelida said. “I want to do beautiful gardens and things like that, so they feel comfortable and happy to marry there.”
While there is no set timeline for completion, the Serranos said they have other long-term plans for the space. Nelida hopes to incorporate gardens and a lagoon, as well as create a venue that can serve the broader community.
She envisions hosting events beyond weddings, including dance classes, reunions and community gatherings.
“But we really want to do this for the community, and I want to see the brides right there getting married, and I have tons of ideas,” Nelida said.
In other business, the zoning board:
- Denied a variance request to subdivide 15 acres by Richard Goodson Sr. on Comer Road.
- Approved a variance request for Alex Mikle to subdivide 12.57 acres for family on Faust Farm Road.
- Approved the revision to the Oglethorpe County UDC Section 712 Solar Energy Systems to include battery storage requirements to the ordinance.