Athens-Clarke County Government Says Expansion Of Epps Bridge Centre In Oconee County Has Impact On Athens-Clarke County

The government of Athens-Clarke County has raised concerns about the proposed $55 million expansion of Epps Bridge Centre, saying the project will have impact on both the transportation infrastructure and natural resources of the county.

The Athens-Clarke County Planning Department outlined the concerns in a letter sent to the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, which is conducting a review of the project as a Development of Regional Impact.

The unified government also sent to the regional commission copies of two letters from citizens of the Kingwood subdivision, across McNutt Creek from the area of the development, that also raise critical questions about the expansion of the shopping center.

Those concerns could be raised Monday night at the Oconee County Planning Commission, which is set to review a request by Epps Bridge Centre developer Oconee 316 Associates LLC for rezone of 54 acres on the Oconee Connector across from the existing shopping center.

The Planning Commission agenda is a full one, also containing the first actual vote on the proposed Mars Hill Road overlay district and on a series of changes to the county’s zoning ordinance, one of which would allow for a recreational vehicle storage facility in an agricultural area.

For details of this story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Location map.