Pickens County panel approves three rezoning requests to allow residential lot splits and correct nonconforming parcels

Pickens County approved three rezoning requests at an evening meeting that will allow property owners to split houses off from larger agricultural tracts or to regularize nonconforming lots.

County staff presented the first request, RZ190796, for Robert and Kaye Burns. Staff said the Burns’ property at 75 Jen Scott Road (parcel 010064001) seeks to rezone 6.65 acres from Agricultural to Estate Residential “to correct nonconforming status of the existing parcel for residential use,” and recommended approval with the condition that “all developments shall comply with applicable codes to ensure that all residential structures on the property meet safety regulations to protect the health and welfare of the surrounding residents.” The applicants said they had nothing further to add. A motion to accept staff’s recommendation was made, seconded and carried by voice/hand vote.

The board then heard RZ190797 for Leonard Jacklet, the owner operating through LJ372 LLC, for property at 625 Jerusalem Church Road in Jasper. Staff explained the request covers a small portion of a 29.99-acre agricultural tract (parcel 039045) and noted the acreage in the PowerPoint was initially listed as 2 acres but a subsequent survey indicated about 3.24 acres. According to staff, the applicant intends to “section off that just 2 acres with a house to sell the house” while retaining the farmland. Jacklet told the board he bought the adjacent farm to run cattle and said the split would allow him to rent or sell the house while maintaining the rest of the farm. An adjacent landowner, Mr. Jackson, described owning the farm next door and confirmed the rationale for separating the house. Staff recommended approval with standard safety-and-code conditions; the board moved, seconded and carried the recommendation.

The final rezoning, RZ190798 for Cassidy (Cassie) Maine at 146 High Meadows Lane (parcel 040032), would rezone a 10.34-acre parcel from Agricultural to Estate Residential so the front half of the property could be split and a roughly 3-acre parcel sold. Staff again recommended approval with the condition that future development comply with applicable codes; the applicant confirmed staff’s presentation. The board voted to accept the recommendation. After a brief opportunity for public comment — none were added beyond applicants and immediate neighbors — the meeting was adjourned.

All three approvals were motions to accept staff recommendations; the record shows the board carried each motion by voice/hand. No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Details to note: RZ190796 (Burns) involves parcel 010064001 at or near the corner of Jones Mountain Road and Highway 136 and is described by staff as a corrective rezoning for a nonconforming partial. RZ190797 (Jacklet/LJ372 LLC) involves parcel 039045, a 29.99-acre agricultural tract where a survey revised the request from roughly 2 acres to about 3.24 acres for the house lot. RZ190798 (Maine) involves parcel 040032 and a proposed 3-acre split at the front of a 10.34-acre tract. The staff presentations repeatedly emphasized that any future development must meet applicable codes and safety regulations.

Next steps: The transcript records the board’s approvals but does not record any required follow-up dates or implementation deadlines; any subsequent permit or subdivision review would follow normal county procedures.