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Bryan County OKs rezoning and variances for Timber Trail commercial plan
Summary
The Bryan County Commission rezoned Parcel 054‑026 from rural residential to B‑2 general commercial and approved two variances (front setback and street yard reductions) for a proposed Timber Trail shopping center, subject to a finalized county Traffic Impact Analysis and compliance with traffic‑improvement requirements.
The Bryan County Commission voted to rezone a 4.5‑acre parcel (Parcel 054‑026) from R‑R‑1 rural residential to B‑2 general commercial and granted two variances to allow a concept shopping center with a restaurant near Timber Trail.
County staff told the commission the rezoning is consistent with the county comprehensive plan and Planning & Zoning recommended approval with conditions. The board’s motion requires the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) be finalized and approved by the county before any land‑development or building permit applications and requires the applicant to comply with all conditions and improvements identified in the traffic study. The final site design must show and incorporate future traffic improvements, whether a roundabout or a traffic signal, and the frontage improvements required by the engineering department.
The commission also approved two variances tied to the site concept. One reduces the front setback from 75 feet to 25 feet; the other reduces the street yard from 25 feet to 2 feet for approximately 176.5 linear feet to accommodate an internal drive that was included on the plan to anticipate a potential roundabout. Planning and Zoning recommended the variances to match adjacent city parcels and to allow internal circulation, the presenter said.
Randy Dykes of MESAC Engineering, representing the applicant, told commissioners the parcel sits at a major intersection and is more suitable for commercial uses than housing, noting an existing gas station across the street and city‑designated commercial parcels nearby. Neighbor Steven Griffin, who said he lives adjacent to the parcel, told the board he supports the rezoning and described the corner as already largely commercial. William Michael Campbell, whose family previously owned nearby land, also spoke in favor.
The board approved the rezoning motion by voice vote and subsequently approved the variances by voice vote. Under the conditions set by the motion, the applicant must finalize the TIA and meet any traffic‑improvement obligations before advancing site development.
The rezoning and variance approvals are final actions taken at the meeting; the county indicated the applicant will return with site plans for county review once the TIA and intersection design are coordinated and finalized.
