Pickens County planning panel approves rezoning for two flex warehouses on Liberty Lane

Pickens County Planning Commission members approved a request April 13 to rezone 2 acres of a 13.78-acre tract at 315 Liberty Lane (Parcel 053A 095) from Agriculture (AG) to Highway Business (HB), clearing the way for two flex-warehouse units intended to serve construction-industry demand.

Planning and Development staff told the commission the parcel sits along the Highway 515 commercial corridor and that the rezoning aligns with the county’s suburban infill character area and adjacent commercial uses. Staff recommended approval.

Tommy Blassingame, representing property owners Bill and Connie Roland, said the proposal calls for two 10,000-square-foot 'shell' flex-warehouse units with rolling and front doors that could be subdivided with demising fire-rated walls depending on tenant needs. He said the developers prefer to stage gravel initially to allow the site to settle before paving but confirmed they will comply with any county paving requirements and with required buffers, setbacks and landscaping.

The public hearing opened and closed with no members of the public speaking. Board Member Larry Brown moved to approve the staff-recommended rezoning; Jim Fowler seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0.

Planning and Development Director Charles Reese later clarified for the record that the recommendation came from staff, not the commission. The minutes include a special note that audio and visual limitations on the recording made some motion-makers indistinguishable; those instances are recorded generically in the minutes.