Oconee commissioners review broad Unified Development Code text amendments, send to consent

Oconee County Board of Commissioners discussed a package of proposed text amendments to the county’s Unified Development Code (UDC) at its Jan. 28 meeting, and staff recommended placing the package on the consent agenda.

Planning staff presented 38 separate revisions that would update local rules to reflect recent state code changes, clarify permitting standards for fiber/broadband facilities, adjust standards for manufactured and modular homes, revise guest-house and farm-tenant dwelling rules, and add or amend nonresidential architectural, parking and landscape requirements.

“These evening, you have a group of text amendments that we've put together, for your consideration,” Dan said, outlining changes that span Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10–16 of the UDC. He described several of the larger changes: bringing replacement manufactured-home regulations into alignment with state law; establishing permitting and use standards for fiber/broadband transmission facilities (including a new definition and a 10,000-square-foot maximum for the enclosed facility); and updating references to the county’s comprehensive plan and state code definitions.

Why it matters: The…