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Oconee County commissioners approve multiple rezonings, variance and contracts; farmland preservation funding authorized
Summary
At its March 4, 2025 meeting the Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved three rezonings, one variance, readopted the county zoning map, appointed a tax assessor member, awarded a health-insurance broker contract and authorized SPLOST farmland preservation funding subject to final easement approval.
Oconee County commissioners on March 4, 2025 approved a series of land-use changes and administrative items and authorized SPLOST farmland preservation funding contingent on final easement language.
The board voted to approve three rezoning requests, granted one residential setback variance, readopted the county'wide official zoning map, appointed a new member to the Board of Tax Assessors, awarded a contract for employee health-benefit broker services and approved farmland-preservation funding subject to final legal review and signature by the chairman.
Why it matters: The actions approve specific developments and update the county'wide zoning map, affecting property designations along Parkway Boulevard and other corridors; the farmland-preservation vote advances use of SPLOST funds intended to conserve agricultural parcels.
What the board approved
- Rezone P24-0036 (Bridal Center 2 LLC), 2.494 acres at 6000 Parkway Boulevard: The board approved a modification of conditions from a prior rezoning (6812) to allow additional outlot uses. Planning staff recommended conditional approval; the planning commission recommended approval. The motion passed. (Action recorded in agenda packet.)
- Rezone P24-0254 (Rhino Mini Storage LLC), 8.37 acres at 1052 Moreland Heights Drive: The board approved modified conditions increasing maximum total building square footage to 73,800 and increasing number of buildings from four to 10, and removing an assisted-living facility from the concept plan. The planning staff'recommended conditions and asked for a 4-foot opaque fence along Moreland Heights Road; the board replaced that requirement with a 2-foot berm with vegetation (see separate article for discussion). Motion passed.
- Rezone P24-0257 (Severn LLC), 3.14 acres at 1901 Eppsbridge Parkway: Approved rezoning from AG to B-2 for development frontage on Parkway Boulevard (planning staff recommended five conditions). Motion passed.
- Variance P24-0259 (Doctor Horton, Inc.), 0.23 acres at 1308 Westland Court: The board granted a special-exception variance to reduce a required side-yard setback from 10 feet to approximately 9 feet for an existing single-family dwelling, subject to two conditions. Planning staff had recommended conditional approval. Motion passed.
- Readoption of the official zoning map: The board readopted the countywide official zoning map, incorporating administrative changes including reclassifying former B-1/OIP agritourism sites to AG (agricultural) now that agritourism is a permitted use in AG under the UDC. The readoption explicitly included actions taken at the meeting along Parkway Boulevard. Motion passed.
- Appointment to Board of Tax Assessors: The board appointed Sydney Bell to the Oconee County Board of Tax Assessors. Motion passed.
- Health-insurance broker services (RFP award): The board approved a contract award to Gallagher Benefit Services to provide health-insurance broker services, with a first-year price not to exceed $141,000 and direction to coordinate a transition and prorated fees with the incumbent broker. Motion passed.
- SPLOST farmland-preservation funding: The board approved SPLOST funding for farmland preservation subject to final legal approval of the conservation easement and authorized the chairman to sign the easement once counsel and staff finalize the document. Motion passed.
Meeting process notes: Public comment was held for each rezoning case; most items drew limited public input. The board postponed discussion on a separate Dawson Park design-services contract because the chairman said he was not prepared to discuss that item.
Votes and records: Most motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote; the transcript records "All in favor? Aye" for the carried motions. The meeting minutes and the planning staff reports attached to the agenda contain the formal condition lists and concept plans for each rezoning or variance.
Next steps: Approved rezonings will proceed to site development plan submissions and required permitting as conditioned by planning staff; the Gallagher contract will be implemented with a transition plan and prorated fees; the chairman will sign the farmland-preservation easement after legal review and final drafts are agreed with Athens Land Trust representatives.
