Stephens County planners approve 4.47-acre lot-size variance and transfer of prior conditional use permit

The Stephens County Planning Commission on May 6 approved a lot-size variance to create a 4.47-acre parcel at 341 William Circle in Toccoa and also approved transfer of a prior conditional use permit tied to event use on the larger property.

Planning staff told commissioners the 5.53-acre parcel the applicant seeks to split is needed to avoid jeopardizing a conservation-use valuation assessment and that the parcel proposed for separation has a history of use as an events venue. "Recommendation from staff is to approve of the variance request and also approve the transfer of the conditional use permit as detailed by section 59-18-07 of the land use ordinance," staff said during the public hearing.

The property is zoned Agricultural Intensive; staff said the existing conditional use permit was granted under prior ownership on Nov. 23, 2021, and that, because the permit was granted to previous owners, it became a legal nonconforming use when it transferred unless the commission allowed transfer under section 59-18-07. Commissioners had no public opposition during the hearing; no residents spoke against the request.

After closing the public hearing, a motion to approve was made and seconded; commissioners voted in favor. The record does not show individual vote tallies or the names of the motion maker and seconder.

Commissioners and staff indicated the smaller parcel will remain in agricultural valuation categories for the portion still used for farming, while allowing the existing event use on the separated parcel to continue under the transferred permit. No additional conditions or follow-up tasks were recorded in the meeting minutes.

The approval applies only to the variance and the permit transfer before the Planning Commission; any future changes or complaints would be processed under Stephens County land‑use code.