Effingham County discusses Ebenezer historic overlay district; moratorium extension noted through April 7

Planning Manager Chelsie Fernald told the Effingham County Board of Commissioners at a Feb. 18, 2025 work session that public meetings on the proposed Ebenezer Historic Overlay District produced clear community objections to certain land uses and that roughly 269 property owners had been notified about the proposal.

Development Services Director Steve Candler summarized the steering committee's review of several zoning designations — AR-1, AR-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, L-I and H-I — and said the committee recommended splitting those into two distinct districts. Candler said the committee and staff intend to use a table of permitted uses and checklists so property owners and reviewers can quickly determine whether a use is allowed or requires additional review.

Board members discussed several substantive design and scope items staff raised, including buffers, signage standards, proposals for historic markers on roundabouts, a referenced 70-foot expansion (scope not further specified in the minutes), setback adjustments, and what the minutes describe as "design requirements for bees." The work session minutes also record stakeholder engagement as part of the planning process.

The minutes note an extension of a moratorium to April 7; the work session record does not include a formal roll-call vote or motion language tied to that extension. Chairman Damon Rahn called the session to order at 4:02 p.m.; the minutes record there were no public speakers during the citizen participation period. The work session adjourned at 4:45 p.m., and the meeting minutes were approved by the board on March 4, 2025.

Next steps were not specified in the work session minutes beyond the steering committee recommendations and the recorded moratorium extension.