Oconee commissioners approve Townley Family rezone with 10-year plat restriction and buffer conditions

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved rezone request P24-0217 from AG (agriculture) to AR (agriculture-residential) for land owned by the Townley Family Partnership, with conditions including a 10-year restriction on final plat approvals and specified buffers along major road frontages.

The rezoned property was described in staff materials as parcels identified in the application packet and as frontage on Hog Mountain Road, Hodges Mill Road and Rocky Branch Road. Planning staff presented the request and recommended conditional approval; the planning commission had recommended denial.

Why it matters: the change would align the subject parcels with surrounding AR zoning and allow residential subdivision at a two-acre minimum, while the conditions approved by the board restrict immediate development activity and require landscape and design treatments along public rights of way.

Staff and applicant presentation

Planning staff summarized the request and listed the recommended conditions of approval, which the staff report numbered and described for the board. Agent Jeff Carter of Carter Engineering Consultants, representing Townley Family Partnership, presented maps and concept plans and said the request would “fill in the area that’s currently ag with the AR zoning designation.” Carter said the concept plan…