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Island Planning Commission approves village preservation review for 500 Oak Street
Summary
The Island Planning Commission unanimously approved a village preservation design review for a renovation and addition at 500 Oak Street on St. Simons Island (parcel 0404613). Commissioners discussed tree removals, confirmed color samples were provided at the hearing, and noted no building permit had yet been issued.
The Island Planning Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 19, 2024, to approve a village preservation design-review application for 500 Oak Street on St. Simons Island, a property listed in county records as parcel 0404613. Stephanie Leaf, planning and zoning, presented the application and the staff-submitted site plan and elevations.
Leaf said the house was built in 1941 and that the applicants proposed to remodel the existing single-family residence and add a one-story addition to the rear and side. She told commissioners that color chips were not included in the packet but that the applicant had brought them to the meeting. "They are proposing to remodel the existing house, plus do an addition onto the rear and side of the house," Leaf said.
The applicant, identified in the record as Mr. Coleman, described exterior materials as white Sherwin-Williams siding and trim, Southfield green vertical porch columns and balustrade, and navy accents on the front door and secondary doors. He said an arborist had recommended removing two smaller rear trees after storm damage and that those trees were below the county—s 38-inch diameter threshold for a removal permit. "We are very, very in tune to not crushing and just demoing stuff because newer is better," Coleman said, describing the proposal as preservation-focused and noting the addition was designed to avoid overpowering the front façade.
Leaf clarified that while single-family property owners sometimes do not need a county tree-removal permit when acting independently, because the applicant submitted a village preservation application the commission reviews the tree and landscape plan as part of its purview. Leaf said the two removed trees did not trigger a permit due to size and that no citations had been issued; she also noted commissioners could require additional plantings as a condition of approval.
Two members of the public spoke in support. Mark Kindiff, the immediate neighbor to the south, said he welcomed the applicant to the neighborhood and that the trees that were removed "needed to be cut down." Realtor Michelle Beveridge said she had observed the applicant—s building work and praised its quality.
Commissioners questioned the location and health of a large multi-stem oak near the house and asked staff to show it on the site plan; staff and the applicant confirmed that the multi-stem oak and another tree in the indicated circle would remain and discussed arborist supervision for future pruning. A commissioner also asked whether a building permit had been issued; Coleman said no.
After brief discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the village preservation review for VP-24-9 with modifications; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission then adjourned.
The approval is for a village preservation design-review application for 500 Oak Street (parcel 0404613) on St. Simons Island; any required building permits and specific planting or mitigation conditions were not specified in the record and remain subject to staff follow-up.
