LIVE OAK - A religious organization that wanted a special-use permit to expand the uses of its organic farm has withdrawn the application.
The Know Thyself as Soul Foundation was on the agenda Tuesday night so that the Suwannee County Commission could hear public comments on plans for the 82-acre farm in northwestern Suwannee County. The nonprofit, nondenominational religious institution wanted to develop a conference center and group living facilities on the farm.
The farm already has two homes on it, a hall that is being remodeled for use as a church, a kitchen, a dining hall and a multipurpose building.
Foundation members said they wanted time to meet with neighbors and try to allay concerns some have voiced that the farm could become the home of a cult or would have adverse impacts on the rural, agricultural area. Some neighbors hired an attorney to try to stop a special-use permit from being issued.
Instead of listening to county residents talk about the farm Tuesday evening, commission Chairman Jerry Poole did the talking in front of a standing-room-only crowd jammed into the main courtroom.
Poole told the supporters and detractors of the plan that the foundation would file a new and revised special-use application in the near future that was scaled down from the plan that had upset some neighbors.
There was no indication late Tuesday from the foundation's backers on how soon they would submit their next plan.