County approves 0.54-acre rezoning to allow roadside fruit stand in Hinton

Pickens County commissioners approved a rezoning request to convert a 0.54-acre parcel at 2500 State Route 136 Connector from Rural Residential to Highway Business so the applicant can operate a roadside fruit stand.

At the hearing, filed as RZ190931, county planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning for parcel number 033158. Kevin Moss, identified in the record as the applicant, told the board he intends to operate a fruit stand on the triangular parcel at the intersection of State Route 136 Connector and the junction with Highway 53 in the Crossroads community of Hinton. Moss said he expects to source produce “all the local people that's got gardens, mainly,” and described a parking area he estimated could accommodate roughly 15 cars.

Board members asked about parking and whether vehicles would encroach on the road; the applicant said the site has a parking lot with space for multiple cars and that overflow onto the road was not expected. No members of the public spoke in opposition. Planning staff described the area as a rural village center with a mix of agricultural, low‑intensity residential and commercial uses and recommended approval; the board accepted that recommendation and the chair announced the motion carried.

The applicant and staff noted the site's location adjacent to existing Highway Business zoning and that the change would align the parcel with surrounding mixed uses. Any construction or business operation will require compliance with county permits and any applicable health and safety rules for food sales.