A 16.9-acre residential development adjacent to Oglethorpe County High School was unanimously cleared for its next steps at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night.
The development off Bisson Woods Road could include single-family homes, townhomes, cottage courts, mansion flats, duplexes, triplexes or quadplexes, said Casey Marbutt, a senior project manager with SPG Planners + Engineers, who represented Andy Barrs, who owns the land.
“We’re not trying to force it through; we don’t try to get things done without community input or buy-in,” Marbutt said at the meeting. “If we go with the design that we’re currently working on, it would be projected to put $166,000 in annual tax revenue to Oglethorpe County.”
There were community concerns about the environmental impacts, but Marbutt and Jeff Sharp, the county’s director of planning, zoning and compliance, assured a thorough review before development begins.
“He needs this variance to know if this is even possible,” Sharp said. “This is going to be a process because the site does have some challenges.”
The unanimous approval allows SPG to take the next steps in pursuing a “planned development” application and to more closely engage with county staff.
This was not a rezone or final approval for development.
“We’re thrilled to have received unanimous approval of our variance request and sincerely appreciate the support of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners,” Marbutt said in an email to The Oglethorpe Echo. “Our next steps include detailed site planning, environmental and infrastructure studies, and continued coordination with the county.”
In other business, District 4 Commissioner Will Brown proposed a 90-day moratorium on all property rezoning and subdivision in order to review the county’s rezoning ordinances after several months of meetings filled with rezone requests.
Eight of the 14 items on Monday’s agenda involved rezones.
“The overall objective (of the moratorium) is to maintain rural quality of life, focus growth in areas outlined in our future land use map, and help keep growth at a rate in which our county and school system can absorb over time,” Brown said in an email to The Echo. “We are looking at all of our options to achieve these goals.”
The request from Vinh Tran to build 12 new chicken houses was denied 4-0, with Commissioner Howard Sanders excusing himself, following extensive debate at last month’s meeting that resulted in the request being tabled.
The public comment portion of the meeting became heated when Scott Pettis, who lives in Crawford, demanded that the BOC take the power to set the millage rate away from the board of education, a complaint he has made in previous meetings.
County attorney Chip Ferguson cited several court cases and Georgia ordinances that countered Pettis’ claims.
“Any time a board of commissioners has done what you’re asking them to do, the Georgia Supreme Court has said they don’t have the power to do what you’re asking them to do,” Ferguson said.
“That’s a lie,” Pettis said in response, as Ferguson explained. “You’re not going to lie to this public … (Ferguson) is a bold-faced liar.”
Ruth Wilson, a parapro at Oglethorpe County Elementary School, expressed her gratitude toward the board and appreciation for the school system.
“I have the right to express that we teachers are very appreciative of everything that y’all do for us — the county, the state,” Wilson said.
As Wilson talked, Pettis spoke out again, leading public works director Adam Nation and Sharp to move toward his side of the room. Pettis then left the room.
In other news the BOC unanimously:
- Approved David Bridges’ rezone request at 68 Davids Road.
- Approved James Walden Jr.’s rezone request to subdivide 489 Union Point Road.
- Approved Roddy Sturdivant’s rezone request to subdivide 165 Stephens Salem Road.
- Approved Rickie and Lori Glenn’s rezone request to subdivide 614 Eades Road.
- Approved Wallace Phillips’ request for a preliminary plat for 366 Lexington Carlton Road.
- Approved Jamie Allgood’s request for a preliminary plat on Robert Hardeman Road.
- Approved Hoai Pham’s request for revision of the site plan at 165 Milestone Church Road.
- Approved the administrative consent agenda, including the May meeting minutes, monthly financial report and health insurance renewal.
- Re-appointed Tina White to the Oglethorpe County Board of Family and Children Services.
- Denied William Radford’s rezone request on Dudley Farm Road.
- Denied Jeremiah Peters’ rezone request at 54 Red Oak Run.
- Denied Hunter Downing’s rezone request on Elberton Road.