Planning commission approves variances for LSL South Construction, recommends conditional use to commissioners

The Bulloch County Planning and Zoning Commission on March 18 approved several variances for LSL South Construction LLC’s proposed contractor office near Veterans Memorial Parkway and voted to recommend a conditional-use permit to the county commissioners.

The commission approved a variance from Appendix C, Zoning Article 14, Supplemental Standards for Specific Uses, Section 14-17 (the 250-foot separation from residences) for the parcel on Chanaberry Court, finding the applicant’s site constraints made the 250-foot setback infeasible. Planning staff and the applicant said the proposal includes a 30-foot vegetative buffer and the applicant agreed to screen outdoor areas; a privacy fence was discussed as a possible condition. Planning staff, represented by Mr. Pope, noted that the building design and any further changes will be reviewed during later site-plan approvals.

The conditional-use request to operate a contractor office in the Highway Commercial (HC) zoning district was recommended for approval to the Board of Commissioners with three staff conditions and a required conceptual site-plan submittal. Planning staff said the conditional-use review requires a later site-plan approval and that the item will go to the Board of Commissioners on April 1 at 5:30 p.m. in this room. Commissioner Trimble moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Lane seconded the motion.

Separately, the commission approved a variance from the parking/circulation standard in Section 14-37 (which requires 40% of parking/circulation to be on the sides of the building). Planning staff asked that vegetative screening follow the parcel boundary to Chanaberry Court and recommended limiting access to no more than two entry/exit points to reduce the risk of vehicle headlights affecting the adjacent single-family residence. Commissioner Beth moved approval; Commissioner Trimble seconded.

Planning staff had recommended denial of a separate variance that requires façade projections or recesses for building walls over 50 feet in length (Section 14-37). Staff said the proposal as submitted did not provide the required architectural projections on both sides of the building and recommended denial unless the commission required additional streetside treatments. The commission voted to approve that façade variance without the staff’s recommended architectural condition; the motion to approve without the condition was seconded by Commissioner Chandler.

All approvals and the conditional-use recommendation are subject to final action by the Board of Commissioners on April 1. Planning staff stressed that the detailed building elevations, final buffering and screening, and site-plan elements will be reviewed during the site-plan approval phase if the commissioners grant the conditional use and related approvals.

Speakers who addressed this agenda item emphasized site constraints, buffering and screening, and timing for final site-plan review. Jamie Cartee, agent for the applicant, described the proposed use as an office and staging area rather than a customer-facing facility and said the applicant agreed to a 30-foot buffer and to avoid openings on the side facing the adjacent residence. Planning staff presented site photos, zoning maps and recommended conditions and noted the need to avoid headlights or other impacts on the adjoining home.

Votes at a glance - Variance from Section 14-17 (250-foot separation): Approved (voice vote). Condition: 30-foot buffer discussed; screening/privacy fence referenced. Forwarded for site-plan review. - Conditional-use permit (contractor office in HC): Recommendation for approval to the Board of Commissioners (motion by Trimble; second Lane). Staff recommended approval with three conditions; final hearing April 1, 5:30 p.m. - Parking/circulation variance (Section 14-37, 40% side parking rule): Approved (motion by Beth; second Trimble). Staff conditions about vegetative buffer and limiting access points noted. - Façade-projection variance (Section 14-37): Approved by the commission without the staff’s preferred architectural condition (motion to approve without condition; second Chandler). Staff had recommended denial absent additional projections or vegetative mitigation.

What happens next The conditional-use permit and variances will go to the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners for final action on April 1 at 5:30 p.m. Any required site-plan review, building elevations, and final landscaping/screening will be reviewed in that later approval process.