Board hears major revisions to R‑districts: smaller R‑5 lots, stricter design standards and new open‑space requirements

Effingham County planning staff described a broad rewrite of residential zoning standards at the Aug. 14 work session, proposing tighter design standards, new open‑space requirements and clearer rules for accessory dwelling units and small‑lot product types.

The revisions aim to steer higher‑density development toward more planned, amenity‑rich neighborhoods while preserving character in lower‑density areas, staff said.

What planners proposed - Minimum lot sizes and tiers: R‑1 minimum raised to one‑half acre (the draft removes an earlier quarter‑acre option tied to public utilities); R‑5 minimum lot area recommended at 6,000 square feet (steering committee recommendation). R‑1A (manufactured homes on foundations) adjusted to match the half‑acre lot standard. - Open space: R‑5 would require 25% net usable open space (up from a prior 15% standard); R‑1 remains at 10%. Staff provided a sample calculation demonstrating how wetlands, required buffers and inaccessible uplands are subtracted from gross acreage to determine the net developable area used to compute required open space. - Sidewalks, street trees and right‑of‑way: R‑1 design standards now include optional sidewalk requirements with…