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Stephens County Planning Commission approves multiple rezoning and variance requests, seeks subdivision-rule review
Summary
At its Oct. 1 meeting the Stephens County Planning Commission approved several rezoning and variance requests — including a 20-lot site sketch rezoning and a large-setback variance approved with a deeded adjacency notice — and asked staff to research subdivision and driveway frontage rules for a future work session.
The Stephens County Planning Commission on Oct. 1 approved a string of rezoning and variance requests and directed staff to research possible changes to subdivision and driveway-frontage rules.
Staff presented a combined rezoning and lot-size variance for property on Mize Road (Foster Enterprises/Tokoa LLC), asking that 0.08 acres be rezoned from commercial general to residential single so adjacent parcels could be combined. Staff said the parcel would shrink from 1.23 acres to 1.15 acres after the conveyance, creating a new lot that requires a lot-size variance. The commission voted to approve the rezoning and the lot-size variance.
The commission also granted a variance sought by George and Julia Yearman to allow a 526-square-foot accessory structure in the front yard at 247 Trimbley Ball Drive, citing staff's finding of a topographical hardship. Georgia Ramen, who identified herself and gave an address for the record, spoke in favor, saying the lot is challenging and that the planned structure would fit the neighborhood.
A rezoning request by Carolyn Angelo to change a 1.85-acre undeveloped parcel from commercial general to residential single — to combine with the owner's adjacent residential lot — was approved after staff recommended the rezoning as a less intensive use compatible with neighboring properties.
On a larger parcel proposed for residential development, staff presented a site sketch for up to 20 lots under a rezoning to agricultural residential. Applicant Alan Mitchell (who identified himself for the record) described plans for a mix of stick-built and manufactured homes, saying the subdivision would help provide more affordable housing choices. Staff noted City of Martin water is available and that percolation tests will determine the final lot count; commissioners and members raised concerns about access, sight distance, bus stops and fire-hydrant needs.
Those same exchanges prompted commissioners to ask staff to research the county's subdivision regulations and possible minimum road-frontage or driveway standards. A commissioner suggested looking at neighboring counties' standards and holding a work session; staff said it would present research and proposed changes for the commission's recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
The commission approved a variance requested by Mickey Cash to place a "stack house" (an agricultural structure used to store and compost poultry litter) closer to the rear yard than the ordinance normally allows. Staff recommended approval on the condition that the owner file a notice of adjacency attached to the deed so future buyers would understand the nonstandard setback and that a combined property would be grandfathered. Commissioners discussed whether the parcel should have been combined originally and agreed the adjacency notice should be filed; the motion to approve with that condition passed.
Votes at a glance: all motions described above carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. Specific actions approved included the combined rezoning/lot-size variance for the Mize Road parcels; the front-yard accessory-structure variance for the Yearman property (526 sq ft); the rezoning for Carolyn Angelo's 1.85-acre parcel; a rezoning/site-sketch recommendation to allow up to 20 lots on the Mitchell parcel (final lot counts to be determined by percolation and other requirements); and the stack-house setback variance approved subject to a recorded adjacency notice. Where precise vote tallies and mover/second names were not given in the transcript, the record indicates motions were moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.
The commission closed the public hearings on the agenda items and adjourned after agreeing to schedule follow-up work on subdivision/driveway standards. Staff said it will circulate research and proposed language before any formal recommendation is sent to the Board of Commissioners.
(Attributions in this article follow the meeting record. Quotes and on-the-record comments are attributed to the speakers who gave them at the meeting.)
