Sullivan County approves three zoning amendments after public hearing

After a public hearing and staff presentation, the Sullivan County Commission adopted three zoning amendments affecting separate parcels in the county.

Planning staff presented three cases that had each received positive recommendations from staff and the regional planning commission. Case 1, filed by Emma McClellan, requested rezoning from B-3 (business) to R-1 (residential) to allow placement of a home on a parcel where a collapsed cellar prevented meeting commercial setbacks. Planning staff described the request as “procedural” to allow the home to be situated safely on the property.

Case 2 and Case 3 were filed by Gary Calcutt. Case 2 requested a rezoning from R-1 to A-1 to better match existing land use and support his plans to combine parcels and pursue Greenbelt status; the staff said one parcel is about 6.6 acres and another is about 7.1 acres and that the parcels abut an urban growth boundary in one jurisdiction. Case 3 requested rezoning from R-1 to A-1 and also received positive staff and planning commission recommendations.

Commission discussion focused on parcel configuration, acreage and how the zoning changes related to existing land uses and Greenbelt qualification. The commission split and voted on the three items separately. The clerk recorded that each amendment received the majority of votes cast and the commission adopted all three amendments in turn.

The public hearing record shows staff and the planning commission supported the changes; no opponents appeared in the hearing record. Commissioners asked practical questions about setbacks, acreage totals and how the rezonings would enable residential placement and future Greenbelt status. The commission returned to its regular agenda after adopting the amendments.