Oconee County planning commission approves scenic-highway ordinance with complaint-response requirement; members elected

The Oconee County Planning Commission on Monday approved a draft Scenic Highway ordinance and amended it to require applicants to provide a contact for complaint response and to remedy complaint-identified maintenance issues within 45 days.

The amendment was added during discussion of notice and maintenance provisions in the draft ordinance, which also includes a baseline county inspection every two years and a requirement that applicants commit to three trash pickups annually. Commissioner Nicks moved to approve the ordinance as written; commissioners then adopted an amendment requiring applicant contact information and a 45-day response period before the county may lower or redesignate a scenic-highway classification. Commissioners voted by voice; commissioners said “aye” to approve the measure.

Why it matters: the draft ordinance determines how Oconee County will recognize and manage designated scenic highway corridors, including notice to contiguous property owners and ongoing maintenance obligations. The amendment creates an explicit, short-term remedy path when the county receives complaints about litter or…