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Commissioners deny Georgia Power tower permit after title dispute and resident objections
Summary
The Glynn County Board of Commissioners denied SUP-25-1, a special-use permit for a communications tower sited at a Georgia Power substation, after neighbors raised an unsettled parcel boundary and commissioners said promised follow-up had not been completed. The denial is for one year; applicants may return earlier if title is cleared.
The Glynn County Board of Commissioners voted to deny SUP-25-1 on April 2, 2026, after a heated discussion over ownership of a narrow parcel adjoining a proposed tower site at a Georgia Power substation.
The vote followed a presentation from Planning senior planner Christopher Kerry and an update from Jonathan Yates, agent for Helman & Yates representing Georgia Power. Yates told the board his team had not found recorded documents showing Georgia Power owns a small sliver of land identified by neighbors as “track 4,” and said the company will site the tower on an undisputed portion of the substation property (referred to as track 3). “We will in no way touch track 4 in any way until this is fully absolutely resolved,” Yates said.
Neighbor Glenda (identified in the record as Miss Glenda) told commissioners she could not find any deed showing Georgia Power purchased the sliver and asked the board to clear the title before any action. “They tell me it’s my property, but the county shows it’s Georgia Power,” she said, asking for a timeline and clarification.
Several commissioners pressed the applicant and staff for definitive answers about title and whether the permit could be conditioned to exclude the disputed tract. Commissioner Tost said residents had been promised alternative location work after the previous meeting and offered a deferral for more outreach and negotiation. Commissioner Clark said the follow-up that had been requested previously had not been completed and moved to deny the permit; the motion was seconded and the board approved it in a roll call recorded in the minutes as 5–2 in favor of denial.
The chair explained the denial will stand for one year but invited the applicant to return earlier if it clears the title or reaches an agreement: “If you can get this matter cleared up, this denial is for a year, but if you get this matter cleared up and we can have conversation about it, I will sponsor you to come back before the year,” the chair said.
Why it matters: Commissioners framed the decision around procedure as much as policy — they said the application arrived at a public meeting without resolving a discrete factual question that affects property rights. The board’s action pauses the county’s consideration of the tower while signaling that it expects applicants to resolve title questions before the county grants land-use approvals.
What’s next: The applicant said it will continue title research and work with the neighboring property owner and county staff. The denial does not permanently bar a permit; if the ownership question is resolved, applicants were told they may return to request reconsideration within the one-year window.
Actions: The motion to deny SUP-25-1 was made by Commissioner Clark, seconded by Commissioner Tostson, and the motion passed (vote recorded in the meeting as 5–2).
