Long County tables RV‑park rezoning after residents’ concerns; approves two other rezonings

Long County commissioners on April 2 tabled a rezoning request for an 11.85‑acre Recreational Vehicle Park (Z‑024‑004) after public commenters raised property‑value and environmental concerns and county staff noted outstanding health and wetland reviews.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Jessica Smith told the board the George Swindell Road parcel is currently zoned Agricultural Forestry and that approval would be conditioned on meeting Recreational Vehicle Park District stipulations. Elliot Wilson, an engineer with M.E. Sack Engineering, told the board the applicant had provided a 30‑foot buffer (an actual 30‑foot buffer from other property owners was described) and proposed screened dumpster areas. Wilson said 1.7 acres of wetland sit at the rear of the property and described 24 planned pads and associated concrete pads and gravel drives.

During the public‑comment portion, property owners identified as the Beeres, Barnes and the Fredericksons objected, saying the RV park would devalue nearby properties, harm the ecosystem, risk flooding in wetlands, create safety issues involving all‑terrain vehicles, increase noise from parties and raise concerns about waste disposal and entrance/driveway confusion.

Commissioner Gerald Blocker moved to table Z‑024‑004 because the proposed well and septic had not yet been approved by the Department of Public Health and the Army Corps of Engineers wetland study was incomplete; Commissioner John Reddish seconded. Commissioner James Craft opposed the tabling motion, saying applicants appeared to have come expecting a same‑day decision. The motion passed 4–1.

Separately, the board approved Rezoning Z‑024‑003 (Maybank Partners, LLC) to rezone 13.19 acres on Horsecreek Road from Agricultural Forestry to Multi Family Residential by a 4–1 vote (Commissioner Craft opposed). Jessica Smith said properties along Horsecreek Road include multi‑dwelling units and that spot zoning was not an issue; developer John Kuhaneck said the plan is for 10 rental apartment units under 1,100 square feet each.

The board also unanimously approved Rezoning Z‑024‑005 (Good Ol' Boys Landscaping) to rezone two acres on Highway 301 from Rural Residential to Multi Family Residential. The minutes record the applicant describing the development as "single family apartments," and site comments referenced shared driveways and a planned layout with up to eight units sharing driveways. The board approved Z‑024‑005 unanimously.

The board’s votes closed the land‑use portion of the meeting; the minutes do not record additional conditions tied to final engineering or permits for these rezonings in this session.