Oconee Planning Commission approves lot split for Living Faith Fellowship, with conditions

The Oconee Planning Commission on Feb. 16 approved a rezone and a special-use modification that would separate a 1.51-acre parsonage lot from Living Faith Fellowship’s church property and allow that parcel to be used as a single-family residence.

Planning staff told commissioners the application (rezone P250224 and special-use modification P250288) would rezone a portion of Parcel C 03014 from OIP to R1 to create the 1.51-acre lot and remove that acreage from special-use permit P200155 so the remaining 6.67 acres would remain under the church’s community-scale permit. Staff recommended conditional approval, including a no-cross-access restriction and a one-foot no-access easement along two sides of the proposed residential lot adjacent to the OIP zone.

Ken Bell of Bell and Company, who prepared the plans, said the intent is to separate the parcel containing the existing parsonage so “the church wants to be able to sell that.” He added that no infrastructure changes are proposed aside from improving buffering where the current vegetation does not meet the required buffer standard adjacent to residential property.

A nearby homeowner identified themself during public comment but did not register formal opposition. Commissioners asked staff whether buffer upgrades must be completed immediately if the property remains in parsonage use; staff replied that buffer compliance will need to be addressed per the conditions. Commissioners also confirmed that the Community Village area density standard (ARD) applicable here is 1.5.

The commission moved and seconded the rezone motion and approved it with the staff-recommended conditions. The panel then approved the related special-use modification—with the same no-access/cross-access conditions—by unanimous vote. Per routine practice, the planning commission’s approvals will be forwarded to the Oconee Board of Commissioners for final action.

The planning staff record lists the plat and concept plan as part of the application packet; the commission’s action does not change the remaining church acreage under the existing special-use permit except to exclude the 1.51-acre residential parcel from that permit. The application materials noted the need to bring buffering into full compliance along the shared boundary with residential zoning.

The Board of Commissioners will receive the planning commission’s recommendation at a future meeting; no Board date was stated during the hearing.