Planning staff reviews multiple rezoning requests; planning commission recommended approval

Planning and development staff briefed the Pickens County Board of Commissioners on a series of rezoning requests, each of which the planning commission unanimously recommended for approval.

The requests included Brandon Kent’s petition to rezone 2.31 acres on Eagle Parts Road from rural residential to suburban residential to allow a two-parcel split; Martin and Cynthia Majewski’s request to rezone 5.71 acres on Hocknest Circle from agriculture to rural residential to facilitate family transfers; Bagwell and Spears’ proposal to rezone 33.61 acres on Ruby Road from agriculture to estate residential for a private, gated subdivision with owner-maintained roads and well water; Robert and Amanda Lewis’s request to rezone a 4.26-acre nonconforming agricultural parcel at 52 Pettit Road to rural residential to allow a second dwelling; Affordable Investments LLC’s petition to rezone 17.447 acres on Highway 136 Connector from agriculture to small ag for two movable lots; and Steve Smith’s request to rezone 11.89 acres on Upper Salem Road from Highway Business to Agriculture.

Planning and development staff summarized each application and recommended approval. For example, staff said, "Planning and development staff recommended approval of the request to rezone the 2.31 acres from rural residential to suburban residential, and planning commission building unanimously to approve."

Commissioners asked procedural and practical questions during the work session. The chair asked whether Kent’s proposed split and shared easement would preserve access; staff said a survey has been submitted for approval. Regarding the Ruby Road proposal, one commissioner asked whether the subdivision roads could be required to be county roads rather than privately maintained gravel roads; staff said developers could bring roads up to county standards and the county could take them over later but that gated, private roads complicate that process.

Several applications will follow the required public-review process. In some cases the planning commission will hold hearings in March and then forward recommendations to the board of commissioners; the work session did not record any board votes on these rezoning applications.

Next steps: the board will schedule required public hearings and follow the planning commission’s recommendations through the county’s normal public-notice and hearing processes.