Planning board recommends denying GW Investments rezoning for 342‑unit McCall Road subdivision
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Summary
The Effingham County Planning Board voted to recommend denial of GW Investments’ request to rezone roughly 135 of 146.06 acres on McCall Road from AR‑1 to R‑5 for a 342‑unit neighborhood, citing neighbors’ traffic, flooding and lot‑size concerns. The commission will consider the recommendation Feb. 17.
The Effingham County Planning Board voted to recommend denial of a rezoning request from GW Investments that would have converted approximately 135 acres of a 146.06‑acre tract on McCall Road from agricultural‑residential (AR‑1) to R‑5 single‑family/traditional‑neighborhood zoning.
John Giordano, an engineer with Thomas & Hutton representing applicant Gary Wigan, described a plan for 342 dwelling units — 270 single‑family homes and 72 townhome lots — with the developer saying the sketch plan includes about 55% open space, well above the 25% open‑space requirement in the county ordinance. Giordano said 10–11 acres would remain as an estate lot accessed through the Timbergate subdivision, with the rest served by two access points on McCall Road. He told the board that water and sewer service would be provided through Effingham County and that the developer would work with county staff on required off‑site infrastructure, including a force main and waterline extension.
During public comment, multiple Timbergate residents raised traffic safety worries, the effects of additional runoff and flooding on neighboring properties, and a desire for larger lot sizes similar to existing Timbergate homes. Daniel Busby, a Timbergate resident, said increased traffic “puts my kids in danger” and cited concerns about watershed impacts and heavy trucks. Several neighbors asked whether wetlands shown on the national inventory had been surveyed for jurisdictional status and whether trails or clearing would remove the planned buffer between the new development and the existing neighborhood.
Giordano replied that the application includes flagged, on‑site wetlands mapped by a local consultant and that the floodplain areas would not be impacted. He also said the project would be subject to a traffic study and to stormwater management meeting county pre‑ vs. post‑runoff requirements, and that the estate lot was intended as a single family parcel, not a new subdivision.
Board members nevertheless voiced concern over the proposed lot sizes, the potential for wetlands and drainage problems in extreme precipitation events, and the long‑term implications for school enrollment and traffic. After deliberation a board member moved to deny the rezoning; the motion was seconded and carried. That recommendation will be forwarded to the Effingham County Board of Commissioners, which will consider the application at its Feb. 17 meeting.
The planning board record notes staff conditions on the application if it were approved, including preliminary‑plat review and site‑plan compliance with the R‑5 district standards.
Next steps: The planning board’s denial is a recommendation to the county commission; the commission will review the application and the record on Feb. 17.
