Glynn County planning commission defers 5725 Frederica Road rezone to June 24

The Glynn County Island Planning Commission on May 20 unanimously deferred consideration of a rezone application for 5725 Frederica Road to its June 24 meeting after staff and the applicant asked for more time.

Planning and zoning director Stephanie Lee told commissioners the applicant requested the deferral on May 19 and staff needs additional time to research questions that arose that day. “Staff is requesting that this is deferred until the June 24 meeting, and the applicant is aware of this matter as well,” Lee said during the meeting.

The item had been placed on the agenda for May 20 because it was noticed and some members of the public were present. Commissioners discussed two options: hold a public hearing tonight based on the materials currently in the packet, or defer the entire hearing until June 24 so the public can review the updated application. Lee said the applicant submitted revised plan-development (PD) text in time for the packet, but submitted a revised master plan late (uploaded the day before the meeting). That master plan, she said, was not included in the packet until shortly before the meeting.

Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns that the public had only two or three days’ notice of the updated materials; several speakers urged a later hearing so everyone could comment on the same, current plan. Staff noted that the PD text in the packet had removed guest quarters from the proposal (reducing accessory-living potential) and that the master plan later uploaded was revised to match that PD text. Lee said the county can re-notice the item for the June meeting, but must send notice at least 15 days before the meeting to comply with noticing requirements.

Commissioners suggested, and several members of the public asked, that the applicant offer a voluntary site visit or neighborhood meeting while people are present. Staff said that can be suggested as part of a deferral but deferred to the county attorney on whether it can be required as a condition. The commission’s published public-hearing rules (30 minutes per side; five minutes per speaker) also factored into the discussion about whether to hold testimony tonight or in June.

A commissioner moved to defer ZM-25-6 (5725 Frederica Road) to the June 24 meeting; a second was recorded and the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: the item will be placed on the June 24 agenda; staff indicated they will re-notice the application based on the current plan and that the chair can decide whether to accept additional public comment in June if the application has not changed further.