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Pickens County planning commission approves four land‑use requests, denies one
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Pickens County Planning Commission approved four conditional uses and rezonings and denied one rezoning request. Actions included approvals for two event‑space conditional uses, one private subdivision rezoning and a one‑acre rezoning for an estate residential parcel; one rezoning request was denied.
The Pickens County Planning Commission on an evening meeting approved four land‑use requests and denied one, officials and applicants said. The actions affect several parcels across the county and include conditional uses for event spaces, a small subdivision rezoning and a one‑acre rezoning to create an estate residential parcel.
The votes affect event operators who said their activities draw regional visitors, property owners seeking to subdivide land, and one family seeking a reclassification the staff recommended denying.
Votes at a glance
- RZ190909 (Travis Potink): Approved. Staff recommended rezoning a 1.00‑acre portion of parcel 002001007 from agricultural (ag) to estate residential (ER) on the condition that the acre be combined with an adjoining parcel (parcel 2001013); the remainder of the larger parcel remains ag. Motion to approve carried; vote tally not specified in the record.
- RZ190904 (James Dean / Grace Padgett, applicant representative): Denied. Staff recommended denial of a request to rezone a 2.2‑acre tract (parcel 034084204) from rural residential (RR) to suburban residential (SR). The commission voted to follow staff and deny the request; the roll call recorded three votes in favor of denial and two opposed.
- CU190908 (Poole’s Farm LLC / Dan Poole): Approved. The commission approved a conditional‑use permit to use roughly 3.67 acres (parcels 051003 and 051003003) for event uses described in the application (Jeepfest, paintball, model‑airplane club, church events) subject to conditions the applicants must meet (parking, safety protocols and applicable code requirements). Applicants said events are currently limited to about five larger events per year and that larger events typically draw on the order of several hundred attendees; the applicant also described the paintballs used as non‑toxic, food‑grade material. Motion to approve carried; vote tally not specified.
- CU190903 (Kevin and Karen Smith): Approved with conditions. Staff recommended approval of a conditional use to operate small events, farm tours, cooking classes and related activities on a 20‑acre parcel (parcel 065010). The staff‑read conditions included limits on class hours and event hours and special conditions for two larger annual events (a vintage market and Jeepfest), including a prohibition on lodging and a 10:00 p.m. cutoff for live music and lighting. The property owners clarified in response to commissioner questions that cooking classes and similar hands‑on sessions would be limited to roughly 10–12 participants and that farm tours and yoga sessions would generally be limited to about 12 participants; parking and traffic plans were described as sufficient by the applicants and neighboring supporters. Motion to approve the staff recommendation with conditions carried; vote tally not specified.
- RZ190911 (Applicant: Brett Rowland and co‑applicant): Approved. The commission approved rezoning two parcels (combined ~36.62 acres; parcel identifiers referenced by staff) from a mix of agricultural and rural residential to estate residential to create a proposed seven‑lot subdivision; minimum lot sizes under ER were described as in keeping with the comprehensive plan’s low‑density guidance. Motion to approve carried; vote tally not specified.
Discussion and clarifications
Staff member Ashley (planning staff) presented each application, read recommended conditions where applicable and summarized alignment with character areas and the county comprehensive plan. Applicants and neighbors spoke at several hearings: applicants for event spaces described anticipated visitor numbers and safety/parking measures; applicants for subdivision rezonings described proposed home sizes and buffering; one applicant seeking suburban residential zoning (RZ190904) emphasized family plans for multiple households but the commission concluded the request conflicted with the staff recommendation to preserve rural residential character.
Several applicants provided parcel numbers and acreages during their presentations; staff emphasized that approved uses must meet applicable county codes and any permit requirements before events or building starts.
What did not change
No ordinance, countywide zoning map amendment or change to subdivision regulations was adopted; all approvals were site‑specific rezonings or conditional uses tied to the listed parcels and standard permitting processes. Where conditions require follow‑up (parking plans, safety protocols, limits on attendees, or combining parcels), staff will work with the applicants on code compliance and permitting.
Next steps
Approved rezonings and conditional uses will be processed for record and conditioned permits or building permits must be obtained before development or events commence. The commission’s next agenda was said to include a mix of residential and one commercial item (details not specified).
