The Newton County Planning Commission approved the adoption of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan during the Tuesday night meeting. The plan will go before the Board of Commissioners for approval in February.

The plan must be adopted by the end of February in order for the county to maintain its Qualified Local Government status and remain eligible for state funding, according to a Planning Commission memo.

According to Judy Johnson, administrative coordinator for the Newton County Planning and Development Department, the commission deferred the adoption of the official zoning district map at the request of planning department staff until April

 The commission deferred a rezoning request from single family residential to general commercial for a commercial development located on a nine acre lot on Iris Drive in District 3. The petitioner, Resource Piedmont Inc. is seeking to develop a 48,678 square foot commercial, business and retail center at the site.

The commission also deferred a conditional use permit request for the operation of a tattoo studio in District 1 until after the results of a variance hearing are received. The tattoo studio would be located in a retail shop at the intersection of Ga. Highway 212 and Ga. Highway 162.

A conditional use permit to operate a karate school on Social Circle Road in District 5 was approved by the commission with the staff condition that there be 30-minute intervals between classes.

A rezoning request from single family residential to office-institutional was approved by the commission for the operation of Kids in Training Childcare Academy located on Huntington Street in District 2.

Johnson said the council deferred a rezoning request until their next meeting in February for an existing Adult Day Care center on Kirkland Road in District 3, which is seeking a rezoning from single family residential to office-institutional.