Commissioners deny Magnolia Hill amendment after residents press flooding concerns

Bryan County commissioners on June 9 denied an application to amend the Magnolia Hill planned unit development to allow 32 townhomes on a 5-acre parcel along Belfast River Road.

Planning staff presented the application, saying the amendment would change an area originally approved for 12 single-family lots to 32 attached townhome lots and would add roughly 212 additional daily trips at full buildout (106 inbound, 106 outbound). Planning and zoning had recommended denial; county staff recommended approval only with conditions such as expanded buffers and an on-site 4,800-square-foot active amenity area and demonstration of stormwater compliance.

Residents from adjacent subdivisions, including Belfast Lake and Magnolia Hill, urged commissioners to reject the amendment. "In August we had a big flooding event and it flooded to where our residents could not get in or out," said Steven Burton of Magnolia Hill, describing submerged roads and a retention pond failure. Scott Huber, president of the nearby HOA, said increased traffic on high-speed Belfast River Road and the absence of sidewalks concerned families and children.

Developer representatives argued the townhome layout better fits site constraints and that engineered stormwater controls will be required by county engineering before any clearing or construction. "We can't cut down a tree until we can convey that we are not exceeding any storm water runoff that occurred pre-development," said a company representative during the presentation, noting civil plans must still be submitted and approved.

Commissioner Wallace moved to deny the amendment, citing unresolved flooding concerns; the motion carried. The denial preserves the parcel’s prior single-family entitlement and leaves any future change contingent on a new application that addresses the drainage and buffer issues residents and staff raised.