Commissioners Change Comp Plan And Send It To State

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a list of changes, some small and some consequential, to the 2018 Comprehensive Plan before sending it on to the state for final review.

The new language approved by the Board clarifies that a land use objective of the county is to make sure that development is consistent with county pre-existing plans for provision of water and sewer services rather than allow development to dictate provision of those services.

The Board also eliminated entirely from the Comprehensive Plan references to the Country Crossroads Character Area, which indicated that commercial development could take place, even in the south of the county, at intersections of major roadways.

The action of the Board nearly brings to an end a process that began more than a year ago and involved the work of a 29-member Stakeholders Committee as well as the professional staff of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission.

The Board authorized Board Chair John Daniell to sign the document and send it on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which must give final approval of the document. Counties are required to have an approved Comprehensive Plan to be eligible for a number of state grants and programs.

For more on the story, including a video of the Commission meeting, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: John Daniell