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Oconee County approves two rezones, denies one and clears a church special‑use; public speakers split on rural splits
Summary
At its Dec. 2 meeting the board approved rezone requests for Wallace and Lauren Miller (P25‑0200) and Oconee Office Partners LLC (P25‑0205) with conditions, denied a contested family rezone at Elder Mill Road (P25‑0209) after divided public comment, and approved a special‑use modification for Briarwood Baptist Church (P25‑0233).
The Oconee County Board of Commissioners considered a batch of land‑use petitions on Dec. 2 and took votes on multiple rezones and a special use.
Rezone P25‑0200 (Wallace and Lauren Miller): County planning staff recommended conditional approval to modify conditions on an existing rezone; applicant Mark Campbell (Carter Engineering) explained the request to revise a buffer and setback related to inactive poultry houses. After brief discussion, the board approved the rezone with two standard conditions.
Rezone P25‑0205 (Oconee Office Partners LLC): The applicant asked to increase permitted building area from 86,000 to 105,000 square feet across parcels on Champions Way. Staff recommended conditional approval with ten conditions concerning facade materials, sidewalks, access, and private sewer certification; Kevin Price (developer) told commissioners the owner has constructed a public sewer connection at the developer’s expense. The board approved the rezone with the recommended conditions.
Rezone P25‑0209 (Meredith and Ronald Chapman): Staff recommended denial because the request (6 acres from AG to AR‑3) conflicted with the county’s agricultural preservation character and minimum lot‑size guidance. Proponents (Tyler Chapman and family) characterized the request as a family division to keep children in the county; opponents, including adjacent owner Mark Costello, raised concerns about flag‑lot access, terrain and impacts on rural character. An initial motion to approve failed; the board subsequently voted to deny the rezone.
Special Use P25‑0233 (Briarwood Baptist Church): The church sought clarification and modification of a prior special‑use condition along Robin Hood Road. Staff recommended conditional approval and the board adopted the request with two conditions.
The board also completed routine appointments during the same portion of the meeting, including elections and health board seats. Several speakers during the rezone hearings asked commissioners to consider the comprehensive plan and whether exceptions for family housing should be made; the board cited the comprehensive plan in the denial vote for P25‑0209.
