Baker County LPA approves land-use amendment, rezoning for 7.55-acre parcel off George Hodges Road

The Baker County Land Planning Agency on July 10 approved a small-scale land-use amendment (Ordinance 2025-23) and a companion rezoning (Ordinance 2025-24) to change a 7.55-acre parcel off George Hodges Road from very-low-density residential and RC-1 zoning to commercial land use and commercial-highway zoning.

Planning staff presented the two companion items together and said the request would make a single existing parcel uniform in land use and zoning. Staff noted a portion of the parcel had already gone through a similar land-use and zoning change in 2006 and that the site is vacant and currently conforms to county standards. "Staff recommends approval," a staff member told the board.

The parcel lies near an interstate node and adjacent public highways, which staff said supports commercial-highway zoning. Board members asked whether the two currently distinct mapped strips were already combined for taxing purposes; staff confirmed the property is treated as a single parcel for tax purposes.

After a brief exchange and no public opposition present at the meeting, the LPA voted by voice to approve the small-scale land-use amendment and the rezoning. For the land-use amendment (Ordinance 2025-23) the board moved and Gabe seconded the motion; the board then approved the companion rezoning (Ordinance 2025-24) by voice vote.

The approvals were unconditional in the LPA meeting; staff did not identify any outstanding code compliance issues or required conditions tied to the LPA vote. The record shows the parcel is vacant and that the applicant intends to standardize the parcel's land use and zoning prior to future development.

The ordinances approved by the LPA will move forward in the county process as required by local procedures.