Commissioners Approve Shopping Center, Financial Center Rezones

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night approved a 32-acre commercial rezone request for the northwest the corner of U.S. 78 and Mars Hill Road and a 1.4 acre commercial request on the eastern side of Epps Bridge Parkway at Pine Ridge Court.

The Commission granted in a 3 to 1 vote the rezone request of Butts County developer Bill Jones, who says he will build a JP convenience store and gas station with 20 fueling positions and a Burger King at the intersection of Mars Hill Road and U.S. 78 in the first phase of development.

Jones also submitted concept plans for a hotel and big box store–possibly a grocery store–for future development of the site.

The Commission turned down Jones’ request to be allowed to put a car dealership on the property as an alternative to the submitted plans.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the request of Danny White of Athens to rezone 1.4 acres on Epps Bridge Parkway at Pine Ridge Court from a two-family residential classification to a general business district.

White is proposing to tear down three duplexes on the site and build a two-story financial center with commercial banking operations and associated office space.

For more on the story, with a video of the Board of Commissioners meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.