Stephens County planners recommend rezoning to let Hicks combine two parcels

The Stephens County Planning Commission's staff recommended approval Feb. 3 for a rezoning request from John and Karen Hicks that would allow the owners to combine a 0.23-acre tract at 2325 Dub Garland Road with an adjacent residential lot.

Unidentified Speaker 2, the planning staff member presenting the item, said the change would rezone the 0.23-acre parcel from agricultural-residential to residential-single so it can be combined with the neighboring residential-single parcel. "The new tract on the survey places the tract at 1.1 acres, well above the minimum 1 acre size required for any parcels zoned residential single," the staff member said. Staff also reported that the remaining parcels zoned agricultural-residential would total about 22.07 acres, above the one-acre minimum for that district.

The staff report noted the subject property abuts residential-single properties to the north and south and concluded there should be no concern with rezoning for combination purposes. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the hearing; the planning commission closed the land-use public hearing for item number 1.

Because the planning commission is a recommending body, the commission will forward its recommendation to the Stephens County Board of Commissioners. Unidentified Speaker 2 told the commission the Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider the item at its Feb. 24 meeting, when a final public hearing and final decision will be made.

The planning staff recommendation and the commission's closure of the hearing do not constitute final county approval. The Board of Commissioners' Feb. 24 meeting is the next procedural step.