Planning commission defers controversial Myers Hill rezoning after hours of public concern

A request to rezone two parcels at 850 Myers Hill Road and amend an existing planned development was deferred by the Glynn County Mainland Planning Commission on Oct. 16 after hours of public comment about drainage, traffic and public‑safety capacity.

Planning Manager Stephanie Leaf outlined the proposal and how it would change the plan‑development text to allow single‑family homes and townhomes on two parcels totaling roughly 271 acres. Jake Lemmings, agent for the applicant, said the current plan would lower single‑family minimum lots from 8,000 to 7,000 square feet and allow townhomes at about 1,616 square feet, and that the applicant was exploring a sewer connection that would require a roughly 1.2‑mile force main run.

Local residents and community representatives pressed the commission on a range of impacts. Jimmy Arnold, a landowner and neighborhood representative, said the proposed density would add roughly 1,230 residents and nearly 1,000 additional cars based on regional averages and warned of narrower local roads, speeding and safety risks for children who walk or use golf carts.

Mance Molineaux, president of the Tri Area Association of Brunswick, said the area has historically been low density and asked the commission to deny rezoning or require a more protective minimum lot size. A resident who lives adjacent to the proposed entrance, Cheryl Cunningham, questioned whether the roadway is properly classified and asked whether GDOT had approved a temporary access that appears on site.

Lemmings and the developer acknowledged the community’s concerns. Lemmings said the team has conducted a drainage analysis and increased stormwater pond sizing — including a pond shown in the revised concept of about 10 acres — and said the developer is willing to remove townhomes from the plan and to adhere to a density equivalent to 2.2 units per upland acre while they rework the layout.

Leaf said the county had sent the application to relevant agencies, including the school district and fire department, and would follow up on specific questions about school capacity and fire/EMS impacts during development‑review. She also noted that GDOT approval is required for access to Highway 82/99 and that civil‑phase traffic studies and improvements would be required if the project advances.

Commissioner 2 moved to defer action to the Nov. 12 Mainland Planning Commission meeting to allow the applicant to revise the proposal; the motion carried 5–0.

The commission’s deferral leaves the application pending while the applicant and neighbors continue negotiating potential changes to density, lot sizes and buffering. The item is scheduled to return to the Mainland Planning Commission on Nov. 12, 2024.