Council approves two rezoning requests, defers third after neighbor traffic concerns

Sumter County Council on Tuesday approved second‑reading action on two rezoning requests and deferred a third after residents raised traffic and access concerns.

RZ2503 (Orchard Grove, applicant BD Investments / agent Buddy Ward) would rezone roughly 3.47 acres of a 4.5‑acre tract from a split designation (agricultural conservation/general commercial) to a single general commercial district. County staff said the change would allow future development of RV and boat storage with a caretaker residence and office; the property is a former mobile‑home park and lies within the county’s military protection planning area. The council approved second reading for RZ2503.

RZ2504 (2615 Peach Orchard Road, owner Craig Bell) would rezone about 4.3 acres from general commercial to a light industrial/warehouse district to allow on‑site processing and storage consistent with light industrial use. County staff noted the property contains an existing commercial building with warehouse and office space, and planning staff recommended approval; the council approved second reading for RZ2504.

RZ2505 (3535 Broad Street, applicant Garage Hotel) proposed to consolidate a 0.244‑acre split zoned portion into an otherwise commercial parcel that already houses a motel and a mini‑warehouse facility. Several nearby residents spoke against the requested access changes, saying an added entrance on Teaberry would worsen traffic and could allow tractor‑trailers to block neighborhood access. Resident Sam Figarski told the council, “It is a traffic nightmare as it is. If they allow an entrance and an exit to that property on Teaberry, it's going to get worse.” After discussion, a council member moved to defer RZ2505; the motion to defer passed.

Nut graf: County staff repeatedly cited the 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s military protection planning policies when recommending approval for the first two items; planning staff said the proposed commercial or light industrial designations are compatible with reducing residential density near Shaw Air Force Base. For RZ2505, council members deferred action to allow additional review after neighbors raised safety and septic/access questions.

Body details: For RZ2503, agent Buddy Ward described plans for a “very nice” RV and boat storage area with an office and caretaker residence; the applicant said the change would allow development of the entire parcel without conflicts caused by split zoning. For RZ2504, staff noted the parcel is in a noise‑attenuation zone that requires notification if it becomes a residential subdivision but said the light industrial request would be consistent with adjacent commercial uses. Planning commission recommended approval for both RZ2503 and RZ2504.

During the public hearing on RZ2505, neighbors asked whether Teaberry has a traffic signal (it does not at the location cited) and raised questions about onsite septic systems for the motel and the ability to reorient access without creating safety risks. A county staff member said a DRC encroachment permit would be required for a second drive on Broad Street and that, from a site‑review perspective, interconnection of motel access and the storage facility would not be permitted; the staff member said access would be expected to operate independently for storage customers.

Ending: Council recorded approvals for RZ2503 and RZ2504 on second reading and deferred RZ2505 for further review and potential return at a later meeting. The transcript does not show recorded vote tallies for the motions.