Planning commission backs rezoning recommendation for Myers Hill parcels, caps one tract at 250 homes

The Glynn County Mainland Planning Commission on Nov. 12 recommended approval of a rezoning amendment for two parcels off Myers Hill Road that had prompted concern from nearby residents.

Planning manager Stephanie Leaf summarized the request: one parcel at 850 Myers Hill Road already sits in a planned development (PD) district established in 2006 that allowed up to 250 single-family lots; the adjacent 82-acre parcel is currently zoned Forest Agricultural (FAA). The applicant originally proposed 450 units, including townhomes, but returned with a revised plan limiting the development to single-family lots and proposing 375 units in the PD amendment.

During the hearing, the applicant’s engineer, Jake Lemmings of Robert Civil Engineering, said an updated wetlands delineation and an upland-area calculation produced a concept plan that fits about 369 homes overall. “Overall, it comes out to 369 total,” Lemmings told commissioners, and he added the applicant would be willing to accept a cap of 250 units on the 89-acre tract if the commission preferred.

Neighbors and local property owners urged the commission to preserve the area’s rural character and raised infrastructure concerns. Brooke Roberts, who said she and her husband own Myers Hill Farm and represent several local community groups, told commissioners the community had expected the 89-acre tract to remain capped at 250 homes. Roberts warned of traffic and school impacts, saying the proposal “with 2.68 people per household, that’s about 978 people all of a sudden put into the tiny little community,” and appealed to commissioners to limit the scale of development and to reopen public notice if plans change.

Commissioners questioned the timing of the wetlands redelineation (an updated delineation the applicant said was completed earlier in the year), drainage and phasing. Lemmings described large stormwater ponds already sized to county standards (he identified one pond as a 10.8-acre feature) and said civil designs and drainage calculations would be completed at the subdivision/site-plan stage. He also said water and sewer extension needs — including a roughly one-mile extension to connect to Buckswamp — were a major factor in the project’s feasibility and sequencing.

After discussion, Commissioner Neville moved to recommend approval of ZM-20-24-9850 with two modifications: restrict the 89-acre tract (Track 1) to a maximum of 250 homes and cap the total homes for both tracts at 369. The commission voted 5-0 in favor. Commissioners recorded that the action is a recommendation to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners and not a final county authorization.

The commission noted that more detailed engineering, drainage and subdivision plans will return for staff review and separate approvals. The developer will still have to complete required civil plans, secure water and sewer connections and submit site plans for individual phases.