zoning board

From left, zoning board members Morgan Robinson, Jimmy Shealy and Sam Nash, along with Planning Director Jeff Sharp, prepare for the April 16 zoning board meeting. Board member JF Hansford was absent. During the meeting, the board approved multiple zoning and land-use requests, including a proposal for a wedding venue and updates to county solar battery regulations, while denying one subdivision variance request. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

From left, zoning board members Morgan Robinson, Jimmy Shealy and Sam Nash, along with Planning Director Jeff Sharp, prepare for the April 16 zoning board meeting. Board member JF Hansford was absent. During the meeting, the board approved multiple zoning and land-use requests, including a proposal for a wedding venue and updates to county solar battery regulations, while denying one subdivision variance request. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Zoning board says yes to wedding venue

Emilie Sullivan
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A proposed wedding venue on Comer Road moved one step closer to reality after the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board approved a rezoning request at its April 16 meeting. Owners Nelida and Greg Serrano, who attended the meeting, requested the rezone from agricultural residential to highway business.
Tammy and David Owens (right) point out details about their rezoning request to Commissioner Tracy Norman as county attorney Chip Ferguson looks on at the BOC meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 4-1 to waive paving requirements for a Yancey Road property. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Tammy and David Owens (right) point out details about their rezoning request to Commissioner Tracy Norman as county attorney Chip Ferguson looks on at the BOC meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 4-1 to waive paving requirements for a Yancey Road property. (ANDY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

BOC approves withdrawal of Bowen Farm cell tower request

Bridget Goodman
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted APC Towers LLC’s withdrawal of a request Monday night to put a 259-foot communications tower on Bowen Farm Road.
A public notice sign for the cell tower stands along 202 Bowen Farm Road in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, on March 23. The tower is proposed to be built beyond the sign in the open land behind. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

A public notice sign for the cell tower stands along 202 Bowen Farm Road in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, on March 23. The tower is proposed to be built beyond the sign in the open land behind. (Photo/Emilie Sullivan)

Residents oppose, board denies cell tower on Bowen Farm Road

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Two cell tower proposals met different fates at the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board meeting on March 19.
From left, Morgan Robinson, Sam Nash, JF Hansford, Jimmy Shealy and Chair Janet Hill, who joined by Zoom, attend the Feb. 12 zoning board meeting. At the end of the table is Jeff Sharp, director of planning, zoning and compliance. Teresa Campbell, planning assistant and permitting administrator, sits at the desk on the far left taking meeting minutes. One of the approved items by the board was a variance to acreage rules requested by William Cunningham. (Photo Emilie Sullivan/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From left, Morgan Robinson, Sam Nash, JF Hansford, Jimmy Shealy and Chair Janet Hill, who joined by Zoom, attend the Feb. 12 zoning board meeting. At the end of the table is Jeff Sharp, director of planning, zoning and compliance. Teresa Campbell, planning assistant and permitting administrator, sits at the desk on the far left taking meeting minutes. One of the approved items by the board was a variance to acreage rules requested by William Cunningham. (Photo Emilie Sullivan/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning Board denies paving variance

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, February 19, 2026
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board reinforced the county’s continued push to enforce development requirements at its monthly meeting on Feb. 12.  The board denied a request to waive a paving requirement for a private access drive, required by a previously approved rezoning.
Linda Russell and Bob Gadd are among the residents who oppose the construction of a T-Mobile cell tower off Melton Road. Many of the attendees at the zoning board meeting on Oct. 23 wore red shirts with the phrase: “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!”

Linda Russell and Bob Gadd are among the residents who oppose the construction of a T-Mobile cell tower off Melton Road. Many of the attendees at the zoning board meeting on Oct. 23 wore red shirts with the phrase: “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!”

Zoning board tables cell tower request

Emily Adams
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Every seat in the Oglethorpe County Zoning Board meeting room was filled with more residents spilling out into the lobby, all wearing red shirts displaying a cell tower that read, “Vote no! Don’t let them tower over us!

County is rewriting rezoning ordinances

Zach Leggio
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
New subdivision requirements and clarification of current rezoning ordinances are coming to Oglethorpe County, likely increasing the waiting period between property splits.  The changes come after an influx of subdivision requests to the zoning board and the Board of Commissioners.
Oglethorpe County zoning board members Janet Hill (from left), Robert Drew, Jimmy Shealy and county planner McKenzie Spooner call the April zoning board meeting to order. The board approved two rezoning requests and discussed the 90-day moratorium on minor subdivisions. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County zoning board members Janet Hill (from left), Robert Drew, Jimmy Shealy and county planner McKenzie Spooner call the April zoning board meeting to order. The board approved two rezoning requests and discussed the 90-day moratorium on minor subdivisions. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning Board OKs rezone for quarry

Sarah Myers
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board unanimously approved the rezoning of land along Lexington-Carlton Road to reopen a quarry to mine dimension stone and granite at Monday’s meeting.    The board approved the zoning change from general agriculture to heavy industrial for the 70.93-acre plot.
Morgan Robinson and Robert Drew prepare for their meeting. Each member is given zoning property maps to visualize each zoning request. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Morgan Robinson and Robert Drew prepare for their meeting. Each member is given zoning property maps to visualize each zoning request. (Grace Mains/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Zoning board approves three applications

Grace Mains
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The Oglethorpe County Zoning Board approved two rezoning topics and one variance at Monday’s meeting.   Kevin Ashe requested a rezone of 2238 Beaverdam Road from an agricultural residential to single family residential.