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Planning board approves rezoning of 188-acre Blue Jay Road property with road-closure conditions
Summary
The board approved rezoning roughly 188.2 acres on Blue Jay Road from AR-1 to B-3 and LI, imposing petitioner-backed conditions that tie a planned closure of Otis Seckinger Road to completion of Effingham Parkway and require deed or easement for a new cul-de-sac before occupancy.
The Effingham County Planning Board voted Aug. 13 to rezone about 188.2 acres on Blue Jay Road from agricultural (AR-1) to commercial (B-3) and light industrial (LI), adding conditions from the petitioner that tie a road closure and certificate-of-occupancy rules to completion of Effingham Parkway.
Senior Planner Chelsie Fernald presented the rezoning application and staff recommendations. Petitioner representative Chad Zittrouer explained site constraints including wetlands and a gas line along the frontage, and proposed three conditions: (1) the physical closure of a portion of Otis Seckinger Road only after Effingham Parkway is complete and operational (with a September 1, 2025, fallback allowing the closure to proceed if Parkway is not completed); (2) deed or grant of right-of-way/easement for land needed for a new cul-de-sac to Effingham County; and (3) no certificates of occupancy issued on properties associated with the rezoning until conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied.
"We agree with staff recommendations and propose these additional conditions to protect access and align infrastructure timing," Zittrouer said. The board discussed buffers, wetlands and future site plans; a site plan review and subdivision process remain required before development occurs. Mr. Ryan Thompson moved to approve the rezoning with staff recommendations plus the petitioner-proposed conditions; Mr. Brad Smith seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous among attending members.
The recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for a public hearing on Sept. 3. Staff said certificates of occupancy will be withheld until the agreed infrastructure conditions are fulfilled and any required right-of-way is conveyed to the county.
