Planning commission forwards seven rezoning and variance requests to Stephens County commissioners

The Stephens County Planning Commission voted March 4 to recommend approval of six rezoning requests and one variance; the package will go to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration on March 25.

Staff presented each land-use case during the public hearing portion of the meeting and recommended approval in all seven matters, citing existing land-use patterns and lot configurations. Commissioners opened the hearing, invited public testimony, heard from a small number of applicants or their agents on several items, then moved to approve each item by motion; approvals were recorded as voice votes and staff said the recommendations will be forwarded to the county Board of Commissioners for final action at its March 25 meeting at 6 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Item 1: Thomas and Brenda Heron, parcel 33075 (6 21 Old Mize Road, Toccoa) — request to rezone a 2.9-acre property from Residential Single (RS) to Agricultural Residential (AR) to allow parcel combination. Staff recommended approval; the commission approved by voice vote and will forward the recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. - Item 2: S and W Holdings of Toccoa LLC, parcel 044087 (Junes Way, East Denali) — request to rezone from Commercial General (CG) to Commercial Industrial (CI). Staff recommended approval to conform zoning to surrounding intensive commercial uses; the commission approved by voice vote. - Item 3: Adjacent parcel (immediately south of item 2) — request to rezone from Commercial General to Commercial Industrial to avoid an isolated CG island; staff recommended approval and the commission approved by voice vote. - Item 4: James (last name in file: Plus), parcel 60084 (1410 South Yal Mill Road, Toccoa) — variance request to allow an additional principal structure on a property of more than 2 acres (applicant seeks a third principal structure; county code cited: section 59-16o5). The property is about 19.75 acres; the owner said the additional structure is to house family members providing elder care. Staff recommended approval and the commission approved by voice vote. - Item 5: Bethany Elrod, parcel (2914 Ridgeland Road) — request to rezone 5 acres of a 52.34-acre parcel from Agricultural Intensive (AI) to Agricultural Residential (AR) to create a residential lot and buffer adjacent RS zoning. Staff recommended approval and the commission approved by voice vote. Applicant Bradley Elrod spoke in favor during the hearing. - Items 6 and 7: Marvin Roach (authorized agent) and Charles Smith parcels (North Hicks Road / Nub Garland Road) — two rezoning requests to rezone specified parcels from Residential Single (RS) to Agricultural Residential (AR) and to combine parcels so the larger tract will meet road frontage requirements. Staff recommended approval; the commission approved both requests by voice vote and will forward recommendations.

Speakers who addressed the commission included applicants and agents (some identified by name). For Item 1 an owner spoke at the podium saying he had “purchased a property a couple years ago and didn't realize it was a single residential,” and asked to combine parcels to match ownership. For Item 4 an applicant said the extra dwelling would help care for an elderly relative. Bradley Elrod spoke for Item 5 and Marvin Roach served as authorized agent for Items 6 and 7. No members of the public spoke in opposition to the items at the hearing.

Staff noted that approval by the planning commission is a recommendation; the Board of Commissioners will hold final hearings and votes on March 25 at 6 p.m. in the same meeting room. The planning commission then adjourned.