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Commissioners approve variance for Rockingwood development adjacent to Athens Academy
Summary
The board approved variance P26-0078 to reduce a required buffer near Athens Academy, adopting conditions recommended by staff but modifying the buffer to zero feet at the movers' request after applicant testimony about existing utility easements.
Oconee County commissioners approved variance P26-0078 for Rockingwood SRH LLC, allowing a reduced buffer between a proposed office/commercial parcel and adjacent property zoned AR (Athens Academy parcel).
Planning staff described the request under the Oconee County Unified Development Code, Article 8, Section 806 and Table 8.1, noting the UDC requires a 25-foot buffer adjacent to AR zoning and recommending approval with conditions including a reduced buffer to 10 feet and standard conditions addressing easement conveyance and landscaping coordination with Water Resources.
Justin Greer of Greer & Pittman Engineering, representing the property owner, said the existing force main/permanent easement and a construction easement already clear much of the area the buffer would occupy. He said the buffer requirement is driven by underlying AR zoning rather than the school's use on the adjacent parcel and argued that a 10-foot buffer would not meaningfully protect property values given the cleared easement area.
Nearby resident Brad Stevens, who identified his address and said his children attend the school, told commissioners he had previously granted an easement for the force main and supported the development team's plans to access sewer at a pump station.
Commissioners questioned whether plantings could be installed without interfering with the sewer line and discussed maintenance access and easement widths. After discussion a commissioner moved to approve the variance with the five staff conditions but modified the condition to allow a zero-foot buffer; Commissioner Horton seconded and the motion carried by voice vote.
The approval includes conditions requiring the owner to convey an easement for the existing public water line free of liens and to coordinate landscaping and planting locations with the Water Resources Department to avoid plantings over sewer service lines.
