[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6616945,"mediaKeyId","2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106","parentId",2847241,"title","Votes at a glance: Oconee County approves two rezones, a variance, auditor contract and consent items","audioSeconds",15,"startMs",2403000,"endMs",2418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106&start=2403&end=2418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106/thumbnail_2403000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6616945/Oconee-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-Oconee-County-approves-two-rezones-a-variance-auditor-contract-and-consent-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616945-6a213c054bf7377d363bb1f2ac107777/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870486&Signature=TMCBLqcLSfL~u87VAZULoiVohC6kgQLf1VQUqjrYycPNM1tTiwCMKgRlT2rSv3EtDdFLSCmcFg7iQ0tqwJGtNHwrZ5CRB4c0gEEn8mCsTogSXBTQ8qNwx3xG9vPbUt~CGcoaZweOCp5Ea3OQJU1GaH9O02scRCz3mjyOKps3YEkgdXAwmIIdpqr9r9J398vzdsV~R7Ba2ny94eeOohPo8sdLKc~j3BMF8tVp1fb4vpPLOnCWRy6zo6MC9XLr95MBhV1Ga-Wa-AB1ZXvFhZcV2dNjrnKRMO31h-MQR0ESIo~ZsotdFswwo2OlosVqWjp6lgnK1xx5AZKa6BnCeO6M0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oconee County","date","2025-04-02T13:06:01.247Z","article","The Oconee County Board of Commissioners recorded several formal approvals April 1. The board approved two rezoning actions on Monroe Highway, granted a variance for an accessory structure, awarded a five-year audit contract to Rushton (the incumbent) and approved the consent agenda. Vote tallies were recorded by voice as \"Aye; motion carries\" for each item.

Rezone: P24-0240 (Green Oaks Farms LP) — Approved with conditions
Staff described P24-0240 as a request to rezone 0.9 acre from AG to B-2 to provide an access driveway connecting to existing B-2 property and to align entrances with Klotfelter Road. Planning staff recommended conditional approval with three standard conditions including submission of a revised traffic impact analysis demonstrating level-of-service C or better at all intersections and incorporation of required improvements prior to Public Works sign-off. The board approved the rezone with the recommended conditions.

Rezone modification: P24-0248 (Jones Petroleum / Green Oaks Farms) — Approved with conditions
P24-0248 sought to modify conditions of prior rezone 7702 for a commercial shopping center concept, including entrances, building size, architecture and layout. Staff recommended approval with conditions addressing traffic analysis, monument-sign height limits (ground monument signs only; no more than 20 feet tall), architectural standards requiring at least 80% of exterior wall surfaces visible from drives/roadways to be brick/veneer/stone or glass, landscaping and screening requirements, and a two-story limit on the proposed office/hotel structure as recommended by the planning commission. The board approved the modification with staff conditions.

Variance: P25-0012 (Thomas McElhannon) — Approved with one condition
The board approved a variance to reduce a required private freestanding garage setback from 200 feet to 65.96 feet at a property along Old Farmington Road (parcel B08014G B), citing applicant testimony that the structure is for private equipment storage. Planning staff recommended conditional approval; a neighbor and the applicant's father spoke in favor.

Audit contract RFP — Rushton selected for five-year contract
The county's audit committee solicited proposals and recommended continuing with incumbent firm Rushton for audit services for the next five years. The board approved the award to Rushton.

Consent agenda — Approved
The board approved the consent agenda as presented; no items were removed for separate consideration.

Each motion passed by voice vote (recorded in the transcript as \"Aye; motion carries\"). The meeting did not record roll-call tallies in the minutes provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOC Regular Meeting April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 1 meeting, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved two rezone items for Monroe Highway properties, a variance for an accessory building, awarded an audit-services contract to Rushton, and approved the consent agenda.","taxTitle","Oconee County, Georgia","taxId",28542,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6616949,"Commissioners approve modified rezone for Industrial Property Management with buffer changes",2368,1197000,3565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106&start=1197&end=3565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106/thumbnail_1197000.jpg","/articles/6616949/Oconee-County/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-modified-rezone-for-Industrial-Property-Management-with-buffer-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616949-237d8948f8c8d42eb824854118c705ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870486&Signature=RJNykcUG4f0uA1ppA79KIx-NvraKbzalmRk4l6wb1kA1DlC~Q27iVtSnK7sVcfWX6STYBLVA~CO6qqvcD5FKBK0336oWHjJRJanMve5XyhnxEtUEIOEPGlXzn9pA~v05VnElUBsl4CgGgP4d~Fre2kq8yGm29Nd9kiBeeQaLbFmD9PmNtt1TT8ftbZWCjRYcKV7lmWNcKNs2l28nCC8EF4AT5lK9cIWdnyC1xJAwQI5eppvORzj3d42TNJDFYxq2m1gZLUYBtezGdEAU9kc5hklSZ7er4AbmEty85QXd50ts4kZPviJ-c1LVK7RzNTXD5TAY6pDyiUYQ0V-vv445VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oconee County Board of Commissioners voted April 1 to approve rezone request P24-0256, allowing Industrial Property Management LLC to modify conditions of an earlier rezone (P240067) for about 40.56 acres at or near 1355 Aiken Road.

County planning staff described the request as a revision of the previously approved concept plan, moving building locations toward the eastern portion of the parcel and asking to alter buffer requirements that were placed on the earlier approval. Staff recommended approval with standard conditions that require enhanced buffers and architectural standards; the planning commission had recommended approval with those conditions.

Jeremy Phillips, representing Industrial Property Management, told the board the company has grown locally and wants to consolidate dispersed operations into a more efficient campus while remaining in Oconee County. ‘‘We\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000we're excited about the opportunity to stay in the county and continue to be a successful business for the county and remain here for many more years,'' Phillips said.

Key modifications approved by the board included replacing a berm-and-fence requirement on the western property line adjacent to a residential duplex with a 100-foot planted buffer outside the existing tree line, with no berm or fence. The board also approved an alternative on the west side of the proposed driveway (facing Pete Dickens Road): either the staff-recommended 5-foot berm plus a 6-foot imitation-wood vinyl fence and staggered evergreen plantings, or an 11-foot berm (without the fence) configured to achieve similar screening.

Staff conditions that remain in place require enhanced buffers along the Georgia 316 right-of-way (a 50-foot enhanced buffer with a 10-foot berm, a 6-foot imitation-wood vinyl fence and staggered rows of 6-foot evergreens, outside any GDOT right-of-way set-aside), a 80-foot buffer where adjacent to residential uses with a 10-foot berm and 6-foot fence in specified places, irrigation of buffer areas, prohibition of septic or stormwater ponds within buffers, and that required enhanced buffers be installed prior to the first building certificate of occupancy. The main office building is required to use 80% brick and stone facades, with a 20% allowance for metal accent materials; other buildings must meet or exceed architectural standards from the earlier rezone.

Commissioners debated how the revised berms and buffers would affect sight lines and future development on remaining open land. Planning staff confirmed that if the undeveloped portion of the parcel is later built upon, the county would likely require berms or other screening consistent with the prior requirements at the time of redevelopment, and installations required by this approval would need to be removed or reconfigured to meet any new conditions.

A motion to approve the modification passed after the board directed staff and the applicant to adopt the 100-foot planted buffer on the western property line (no berm or fence) and to allow the western driveway buffer option of ‘‘5-foot berm plus 6-foot fence and plantings OR 11-foot berm.'' The board recorded the vote as ‘‘aye; motion carries.''

The approval included the staff's other listed conditions and the requirement that buffer plantings, berms and other site improvements be shown on site-development plans and installed as required before any certificate of occupancy was issued.","Oconee County commissioners approved modification of an earlier rezone for Industrial Property Management LLC (P24-0256), shifting building locations and changing buffer requirements: a 100-foot planted buffer without berm/fence on one side and an option for a taller berm elsewhere.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6616953,"Resident urges Oconee County action after son killed on Cullum Ferry Road",262,371000,633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106&start=371&end=633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2847241-bbe27047a96c23303b2e836a9a487106/thumbnail_371000.jpg","/articles/6616953/Oconee-County/Georgia/Resident-urges-Oconee-County-action-after-son-killed-on-Cullum-Ferry-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6616953-03478f09313c54264211668cf4723d91/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870486&Signature=bXaADf-tCGICETDZDKKDz6vAn5MecNCkKFaWKEmrEb-ZRPdTQ7n3hF1VQv8mZ04xWB-vxwszy~NiSClF5~Qkw09ow00fJXHtcTmKAJQvzOhkYhEXba0puI4ncZNSCIULMByLKdSUJ4fPym9ylRTU55rCi71DzRZbuwBGupqE44x9eg1NGDetExvfatUYSXAgIW-gnvhbbkwfWTzoCPuOde7GrCDq5c~ETkrAyCAPWyNYcFXzzCoccBtgC3DldU3HPVfHFhhCIQRGglw6s1TXSki5TMu~bAM4WwfZ9m0ZyYNK-Gh-2oKvrvaMKl7Xf6gAhDcUnZ2j53hxcKq67tIjwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeff Morgan, an Oconee County resident, told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on April 1 that his son was killed about a month earlier in a single-vehicle crash on Cullum Ferry Road and urged the county to pursue safety changes.

Morgan said his son was not speeding, was wearing a seat belt and was not using his phone at the time of the crash; the family tracks the son's phone, he said. ‘‘It was a straightaway, and something happened, and we don't know what,'' Morgan said during the meeting's public-comment period.

Morgan described multiple recent collisions on the corridor, including at least two incidents at the intersection of Astondale and Cullum Ferry Road, which he said occurred within weeks of one another. He told commissioners that repaving has led to higher travel speeds and that the road carries a mix of vehicles — farm equipment, logging trucks, diesel trucks and bicyclists — creating safety risks.

He asked the board to consider speed-control tools, reduced-speed signage, measures to limit unsafe passing on curves and a four-way stop at Astondale and Cullum Ferry Road. ‘‘If you make it a 4-way stop, it might not stop all the accidents, but it's gonna slow the accidents down,'' Morgan said. He also suggested adding a bike lane.

Morgan closed by asking commissioners to report back at the next meeting with specific changes: ‘‘Come back next month and tell me what's gonna happen and what changes are gonna be made.''

The remarks occurred during the meeting's public-comment segment and did not include a formal county action on the road. Commissioners did not record a motion or vote on Morgan's requests during the April 1 meeting.

The board heard other routine announcements during the meeting but took no immediate action on Cullum Ferry Road at this session.","At the April 1 Oconee County Board of Commissioners meeting, resident Jeff Morgan urged the county to take traffic-safety measures on Cullum Ferry Road following his son's fatal crash and multiple recent collisions at the same corridor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Oconee County approves two rezones, a variance, auditor contract and consent items

Commissioners approve modified rezone for Industrial Property Management with buffer changes

Resident urges Oconee County action after son killed on Cullum Ferry Road