Mainland Planning Commission recommends reduced Myers Hill rezoning after 800-signature opposition

The Glynn County Mainland Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Aug. 11, 2025, to forward a revised rezoning proposal for two parcels along Myers Hill Road to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners. The commission’s recommendation reflects a developer offer to reduce density on the Forest Agricultural parcel and to add a mix of half-acre lots.

The vote follows a public hearing in which residents and local groups pressed the commission to deny the county-initiated rezoning. Planning and Zoning Director Stephanie Leaf told the commission the application is county initiated and “is sponsored by a commissioner. So commissioner Sammy Tossinson is sponsoring this as county initiated.”

The commission’s amended recommendation would keep the plan-development (PD) track largely as proposed on the original PD parcel and change the FA (Forest Agricultural) parcel to a PD text that would reduce the number of 8,000-square-foot lots proposed on that FA parcel from 119 to 85 and add 10 half-acre lots, a reduction of 24 lots from the developer’s earlier cap. The applicant had proposed a maximum of 369 lots across the two parcels; the amendment reduces that maximum to 345 lots.

Why it matters: Neighbors said the change still affects traffic, schools, drainage and the rural character of the area. Planning staff and the applicant discussed technical details including sewer, stormwater and buffers, and residents delivered a petition and multiple speakers at the hearing.

Details from staff and the applicant Planning staff said the two parcels are separate: parcel 0202181 (addressed as 850 Myers Hill Road) is roughly 189 acres and is already a PD allowing up to 250 lots under the existing PD; parcel 0201207 is approximately 82 acres and is zoned FA (Forest Agricultural). Stephanie Leaf said the combined rezone would make the two parcels part of one master plan and “they are proposing a max of 369 lots across both parcels” with an 8,000-square-foot minimum lot size for single-family dwellings.

Engineer Jake Lemmings, representing the owner, described changes made after prior public review and meetings with area homeowners’ representatives. He said the project had previously proposed higher densities and townhomes, but those townhome proposals were removed and the current submission is single-family homes with an 8,000-square-foot minimum. Lemmings also said the development would be phased over time, likely three to five phases, and that approval would not mean “trees start coming down immediately.” He told the commission: “It’s not like this gets approved and trees start coming down immediately.”

Infrastructure, drainage and sewer Lemmings and staff addressed school capacity, fire service, drainage and sewer connections. The applicant provided a drainage analysis and plan drawings; Lemmings said the proposed stormwater ponds are oversized relative to county minimums and that the drainage design is intended to match or reduce predevelopment flows so downstream flow rates do not increase. On sewer, Lemmings said the sewer connection would be extended from the Buckswamp area and would not be extended down Myers Hill as part of the project; Joint Water and Sewer’s policies and future capital projects would determine any farther extension.

Public opposition and petition Residents pressed the commission to deny the rezone. A speaker who identified herself as Brooke and said she lives on Myers Hill read from a petition “signed by more than 800 Glynn County residents” and told the commission: “We do not support this rezoning request.” She said the Board of Commissioners denied a similar proposal in January 2025 and told the commission that “nothing has changed — not the plan, not the density, not the location.” Other commenters raised concerns about overflow and local culverts, groundwater and the adequacy of downstream conduits during major storms.

Commission action and next steps After deliberation, a commissioner introduced a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning with the applicant’s offered reductions (85 8,000-square-foot lots on the FA parcel plus 10 half-acre lots on that parcel, reducing the overall total by 24 lots). The motion passed 6-0. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners for a final decision.

What was not decided and outstanding items The commission’s vote was a recommendation only; final rezoning and PD text changes require Board of Commissioners action. Several residents asked for additional assurances about buffers, fencing and final building siting; the applicant agreed to discuss buffer/landscaping and to work with staff. The petition delivered to the Planning and Zoning Department listed 829 signatures but staff said it did not verify residency for every signer; staff confirmed many were Glynn County residents and some were from outside the county.

Evidence and provenance: the public hearing opened with staff presentation and parcel descriptions; public comment included at least four named speakers and a petition. The commission’s motion and 6-0 recommendation occurred at the hearing’s close and the matter will proceed to the county commission.