Board reviews multiple planning and zoning matters including Pea Ridge, Grand Communities and a chiropractic rezoning

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners reviewed multiple planning and zoning items at its July 1 work session, including a rezoning request for a longstanding chiropractic office, a subdivision proposal in the Pea Ridge area and a conservation subdivision on Woodstock Road.

Kelly Chiropractic (Rezoning to NC): Staff said the operator has occupied the property off Bells Ferry Road since the 1990s and requested rezoning from RM‑10 to Neighborhood Commercial (NC) to bring the existing 4,000 square‑foot office into compliance and to allow future commercial marketing. Planning staff reported the Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning and two related buffer/setback waivers. Commissioners noted the request does not change the use or site and spoke in favor of regularizing the property’s zoning.

Pea Ridge Land Investments (subdivision and variances): Benson Chambers presented a multi‑tract application that initially sought a mix of RD‑3 and RZL zoning for roughly 41 acres and asked for several variances (lot widths, reduced setbacks and buffer modifications). The Planning Commission had recommended denial of some variances. The applicant told the board he intended to convert the entire project to RD‑3, which would remove several variance requests. County staff and commissioners discussed traffic and a required secondary access; Fire Marshal staff said a gated emergency access could be acceptable if an ultimate full access is planned and timed to intersection improvements. The board directed staff to place a public hearing on the matter (applicant called for an August 19 hearing) after a revised site plan and to require a community input meeting in advance unless the board waives that requirement; commissioners indicated they would likely waive an additional community meeting if the changes are not material.

Grand Communities (R‑20 Conservation): The applicant proposed a conservation subdivision that clusters development north of Kellogg Creek and preserves the creek corridor. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the R‑20 conservation zoning but denied requested variances that would allow lot encroachments into primary conservation areas and reductions to green‑space access strips. County staff noted the conserved creek corridor is substantial and that further site‑plan work may resolve encroachment concerns. The board indicated it would likely table the case to allow the developer to refine the plan and address stream/floodplain encroachments.

Shawn Jorgenson (lot split, Land Road): The applicant requested to split a 2.3‑acre parcel into two R‑40 lots in an area where neighboring lots are nonconforming. The Planning Commission recommended denial. The applicant requested postponement to the next meeting; commissioners agreed to a four‑week postponement as a courtesy.

Ending: Several items were set for additional work, revised site plans, a public hearing (Pea Ridge) and postponement (Lot split). No final zoning approvals were recorded in the work session transcript; the Planning Commission recommendations and next steps were noted for each case.