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Commission approves multiple rezonings, postpones Laurel Island storage rezoning after neighborhood objections
Summary
The board approved several rezoning and special-use requests but postponed a requested Industrial General rezoning on Laurel Island Parkway after neighbors sought a narrower zoning and conditions.
The Camden County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of planning items, including rezoning and special-use permits, and postponed a high-profile proposal on Laurel Island Parkway after nearby residents voiced objections.
Planning staff presented multiple requests: conversions of nonconforming agricultural parcels to residential uses to enable dwellings, a rezoning to permit a towing business (Commercial Neighborhood to Industrial Restricted) on Highway 17 with an accompanying special-use permit for motor-vehicle towing, and a request at Brewster Avenue to rezone residential parcels to Commercial General for a small retail center. Planning Commission recommended approval on those items and the board approved them individually during the meeting.
A separate application sought to rezone about 6.5 acres on Laurel Island Parkway from Agricultural Forestry to Industrial General for a climate-controlled storage facility. Dr. Janet Bradford, an adjacent property owner, spoke in sustained opposition and recommended Industrial Restricted (IR) rather than Industrial General (IG) to limit potential industrial uses. She also urged the board to ensure infrastructure improvements and address security and 24-hour access concerns.
Commission discussion focused on the difference between IR and IG zoning and on the setback variance that the Planning Commission had approved (a 30-foot setback reduction, contingent on the rezone). Commissioners noted that an IG designation could permit many additional uses, while an IR designation is narrower; however, because the applicant requested IG, the board said a reapplication and re-advertising would be required to change the requested district. After discussion, the board voted to postpone the Laurel Island Parkway item to the next regular meeting so staff and the applicant can address neighbors' concerns and examine zoning options.
Other land-use items on the agenda were approved with Planning Commission conditions, including the towing-company rezoning and special-use permit and several parcel recombinations meant to correct nonconforming lot geometry.
The board instructed staff to return the postponed Laurel Island Parkway rezoning with clarified setbacks, permitted uses and proposed conditions for security and access.
