Commission recommends site coverage changes — exemptions for turf, gravel and accessibility items added

The Glynn County Islands Planning Commission recommended the TA-26-2 zoning amendment package with specific modifications to the site-coverage portion: artificial turf and gravel would count as 50% toward site-coverage calculations, and accessibility or emergency-resilient equipment (for example, generators or handicap lifts) would be exempt.

Staff told commissioners that the code set a countywide residential site-coverage maximum at 60% and commercial maxima at 85% on the mainland (75% on islands). The proposed change would remove the mainland percentage limit; staff stressed that setback and tree-ordinance open-space requirements would remain in force. Commissioners raised concerns that mainland and island rules would diverge substantially and asked about credits for pervious surfaces and how to treat necessary accessibility and emergency equipment. One commissioner moved modifications that specified the 50% credit for gravel and artificial turf and exempted accessibility and emergency equipment; the commission approved the recommendation with those modifications.

"We count at, artificial turf and gravel as 50% of their total square foot towards site coverage. We exempt, accessibility emergency resilient equipment like generators, and handicap lifts from the site coverage calculations," the motion recorded.