Commission approves variances, handbook changes, contract renewals and an annexation
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Summary
After the land‑use public hearing commissioners approved all eight land‑use items (variances and rezoning), extended a camper permit, renewed a striping contract, adopted harassment‑training and vacation payout policies, approved an annexation, and accepted routine invoices. Most votes were unanimous.
Stephens County commissioners approved a slate of land‑use variances and rezonings and took several routine administrative actions at their combined public hearing and regular meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Item 1 (Hal Glaze) — Variance to allow a 50‑foot left side setback (variance of 150 feet): Approved (motion/second recorded; motion passed unanimously).
- Item 2 (Steven Louder) — Front‑yard variance to place a storage building/three‑car garage within the front yard: Approved unanimously.
- Items 3 & 4 (William Howard Bell Life Estate) — Rezoning of 2 acres to Agricultural Residential and a lot‑width variance: Approved unanimously.
- Item 5 (Lula Capital LLC) — Front‑yard setback variance (6.7 feet): Approved unanimously.
- Items 6 & 7 (Jerry Waters parcels) — Lot‑size variances and a side‑yard setback variance for a subparcel: Approved unanimously.
- Item 8 (Anne Haney / DDB Capital) — Rezoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Parcel 043095: Approved unanimously (see separate article for details).
Other motions and administrative actions
- Item 9 — Camper permit extension for property at 4273 Highway 123: Motion approved to extend the permit for six months.
- Item 10 — Standby striping services agreement renewed with Peak Pavement Marking LLC: Motion approved.
- Item 11 — Proclamation recognizing November as Farm‑City Week: Motion approved; chairman authorized to sign.
- Item 12 — Select employee handbook changes adopted and chairman authorized to sign a resolution: The board adopted three policies now (harassment training policy, training requirement implementation, and a vacation payout policy) and asked staff to finish remaining handbook edits. County staff said the harassment training will be provided through ACCG and will require annual completion by employees.
- Item 13 — Annexation of a property on Queen Street (T 29160) into the city of Toccoa at the request of Jeremy Adams: Approved.
- Invoices — Two fuel invoices from Bakery Oil (regular gasoline and regular diesel) were approved; finance staff reported county fleet usage averages about 700 gallons per day.
How the votes were taken: Most motions were made and seconded without individual roll‑call tallies recorded in the public transcript. The clerk announced "aye" votes and the chair announced that motions passed unanimously.
What the record shows: Planning Commission recommendations were noted for each land‑use item (typically to approve); the PUD item (8) had the most public comment and a regional DRI review, which allowed the county to consider the rezoning. The board and staff emphasized that approved PUDs must follow the submitted development plan and that significant deviations would return to the commission for action.