Long County approves Taylors Creek rezoning despite resident objections

Long County commissioners on Dec. 2 approved a request from Taylors Creek Construction to rezone a 12.9-acre parcel on Macon-Darien Road from C1 to RR to allow residential lots of at least one acre, a decision that passed 4-1 with Chairman James Craft opposed.

Jason Smiley of Taylors Creek Construction told the commission the tract—part of a previously church-owned 31-acre parcel—meets all applicable ordinances, that a 10-foot easement along the dirt road frontage will be granted to the county for future road improvements and that either a community water system or individual systems will serve the lots. He estimated converting the property to taxed residential lots would generate about $100,000 or more in impact fees and property taxes.

Several nearby residents urged the commissioners to reject or scale back the plan. Lisa Ruise, speaking on behalf of Vickers Hill neighbors, said the road is already dangerous, warned of increased traffic and potential impacts to the water table and said adding 12 homes would be inconsistent with surrounding five-acre lots and would depress nearby property values. A resident of Old Macon Dairy Road presented a petition and asked the board to require lot sizes that match existing development patterns; another resident sought a 50-foot privacy buffer, protection for an existing utility easement, careful septic siting to avoid well contamination and stormwater protections at Chapman Creek Road.

County Manager Chuck Scragg told commissioners the Planning and Zoning Board determined the proposal complies with current county ordinances and requires no upgrades. Smiley said he had already increased minimum lot sizes during the planning process to address concerns and that dual driveways would limit the number of new access points to six.

Commissioner Gerald Blocker moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner John Reddish seconded. The motion carried 4-1 with Chairman Craft voting nay.

The commission did not attach additional conditions such as larger minimum lot sizes or mandated buffers beyond ordinance requirements; residents asked the board to reconsider those options at a later date.