Pickens County planning panel recommends rezoning for Liberty Lane flex warehouses

A Pickens County planning staff member recommended changing zoning for a 2-acre portion of Parcel 0538095, located near 315 Liberty Lane and Harmony Elementary, from agricultural to highway business to permit two flex-warehouse shell buildings, and the planning panel voted to recommend approval.

The recommendation, introduced at the panel meeting, said the proposed rezoning aligns with the county comprehensive plan, is compatible with adjacent commercial zoning, and would include required setbacks, landscaping and buffers to limit impacts on neighboring residential properties. The staff member told the commission the two planned buildings would each be roughly 10,000 square feet and that future tenants could subdivide space into smaller units as needed.

An applicant representative who identified himself on the record said he represents the Rowland family and described the intended use as 'a shell, you know, flex' that would comply with county and fire-marshal requirements. He said the team expects to place temporary gravel on site while settling occurs and then pave the areas to meet stormwater and paving standards.

Neighbors asked about buffers and long-term ownership of the property. One resident who said he had driven by the site noted the house on the parcel and asked whether the Rowlands would continue to own it; the applicant said ownership questions could be addressed separately but that required buffers, setbacks and landscaping would be provided per county ordinance.

Following questions and discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote, recorded in the meeting transcript as unanimous. The commission recommended sending the rezoning to the Pickens County commissioners for a final decision at a subsequent meeting.