Board denies conditional use permit for 115 Mallory Street amid access and occupancy concerns

The Glynn County Board of Commissioners voted 5–2 on Nov. 7 to deny a conditional use permit for 115 Mallory Street, the site of the former Blue Water Grill, after commissioners debated parking access, capacity and safe egress.

Planning manager Stephanie Leaf reminded the board that the item had been deferred from Oct. 17 and summarized the application: the applicant would demolish a non‑historic rear portion of the building to create eight angled parking spaces accessed from Floyd Street and would convert the second story to a single residential unit. The Islands Planning Commission previously recommended approval.

Commissioners raised concerns about alley access and building occupancy. One commissioner cited an older Department of Public Health application that listed the building’s maximum occupancy at 200, saying they did not want to re‑create that level of capacity. Several commissioners proposed limiting access through the service alley or requiring alternate egress; a motion to approve while blocking alley access failed for lack of a second.

Commissioner Rufalski moved to deny the permit and Commissioner Tostesen seconded. The motion to deny carried 5–2 and CUP‑24‑6 was denied.

Next steps: The record shows the board acted on the permit at the Nov. 7 meeting; staff or the applicant may pursue resubmission or administrative remedies consistent with county procedures.