The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved revisions to the subdivision and recreational vehicle ordinances, including requiring a vote for subdivisions with more than three lots.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners approved revisions to the county’s subdivision and recreational vehicle ordinances at its meeting on Monday night, following a recommendation from the zoning board.
The commissioners approved the changes 4-0. District 1 Commissioner Howard Sanders was not present at the meeting, and approximately 25 people were in attendance.
The subdivision ordinance change updates approval requirements for subdivision splits. Subdivisions with more than three lots will now require a vote by the Zoning Board and the Board of Commissioners.
“We’ve gotten some word of some large tracts to be subdivided into 25 or more-acre lots,” said Jeff Sharp, director of planning, zoning and compliance. “And we didn’t think that was something Teresa (Jo Campell, county planning assistant and permitting coordinator) or I should approve on our own.”
Minor subdivisions will continue to be approved through the county’s planning and zoning department.
Revisions to the recreational vehicle ordinance clarify rules related to RV living. The previous ordinance prohibited residents from living in an RV for more than 90 days, but did not specify whether those days had to be consecutive.
Under the updated language, once residents move into an RV, they can stay for up to 90 consecutive days before being required to move out. After leaving, they cannot return to the same RV for one year.
Sharp said the changes aim to better manage the growing number of people living in recreational vehicles.
“What we’ve tried to do is keep them from ever getting there,” Sharp said. “Recently, there’s been a lot of them. They’re entrenched. That’s going to be a different battle, but I’m trying to keep it from getting worse right now.”
In addition, the board also approved the 2026 budget, allocating the majority to the Sheriff’s Office, jail and emergency medical services.
The budget is set at approximately $11.14 million, a 9% increase from the previous year’s budget of $10.22 million.
In other business, commissioners received updates on projects on state Route 77 and state Route 22.
The Georgia Department of Transportation approved the board’s plans to add flashing stop signs to the two-way stop at the intersection of Sandy Cross Road/Centerville Road and state Route 77 (Elberton Highway). Chairman Jay Paul said the signs are expected to arrive within four weeks.
On state Route 22 (Comer Road) at the intersection of Collier Church Road/Watson Mill Road, GDOT has installed signs to notify residents about a new four-way stop, which Paul said will become a roundabout.
The final update marked one year since the installation of the four-way stop in Sandy Cross.
Before the stop was installed, Paul said the county averaged one accident a month during the last five years on that stretch of road. Since its completion, no accidents have been reported.
In other business, the BOC:
- Approved SPG Planners & Engineers’ rezone for the tax parcel on Athens Road from A2 (general agriculture) to PD/R-3 (planned development with multi-family residential overlay) for a mixed-density residential development.
- Discussed and approved the board’s Double Bridges Road widening project.
- Approved funding for the Wolfskin and Buddy Faust Road projects. The road improvements are estimated to cost $1.1 million and are funded through a combination of 2025 LMIG (local maintenance and improvement grant from the Georgia DOT), 2022 TSPLOST and LRA (local road assistance).
- Approved Tim Kelley’s rezone request for a portion of tax parcel at 2522 Comer Road from A2 (general agriculture) to AR (agriculture residential).
- Approved Kevin Bright’s rezone request for the tax parcel at Washington Road from A2 (general agriculture) to AR (agriculture residential) to subdivide three acres as a split family.
- Approved Jennifer Elliot’s rezone request for the tax parcel at 1380 Dunlap Road to subdivide AR (agriculture residential) to R1 (single-family residential) to subdivide to build a new home.
- Approved Leonard Arnold’s rezone request of five acres for tax parcel at 190 Paradise Hogan Road from A2 (general agriculture) to AR (agriculture residential).