Washington County planning panel backs reduced landscape buffers for Dollar General site

The Washington County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval April 7 of a variance that will let the developer of a Dollar General at 888 Corbin Road use smaller vegetative buffers and add privacy fencing instead of the originally required larger buffers.

The commission’s action was a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners; the Planning Commission vote was recorded as four yes votes with several members excused. Staff said the change would move some planting closer to the building and add a 6-foot privacy fence to improve screening for nearby residences.

Dawn McDonald, planning staff, told the commission the project is the previously approved major development review for a commercial building on roughly 4.99 acres in Chipley and that Terramor Development purchased the property. She said the current request would replace two 10-foot rights-of-way…