Commissioners Postpone Decision On Shopping Center At Schools

Oconee County commissioners Tuesday night delayed until Oct. 2 their decision on a rezone for a proposed shopping center between Lenru Road and Malcom Bridge Road just south of Malcom Bridge Elementary and Malcom Bridge Middle schools.

The commissioners made that decision after receiving only opposition from residents in neighborhoods surrounding the proposed development, hearing from and interacting with the developer, and getting input from county staff.

“I think there’s certainly been enough questions,” Commissioner Chuck Horton said in making the motion to postpone the decision. “I certainly don’t have a problem having 30 days to decide.” Commissioner Mark Thomas seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

At issue is how to manage the implications of decisions made by commissioners more than 14 years ago to encourage commercial development in a small strip of land now surrounded by residential development and a major school campus.

The Commission will not hold another public hearing when it meets on Oct. 2. It simply will take up the discussion with staff and possibly the developer where it left off Tuesday night.

In other action Tuesday, the Commission received a detailed report from a representative of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on the Georgia Hotel/Motel Tax, which the county wants to use in conjunction with a Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Please go to Oconee County Observations for a detailed report on this meeting. The report draws on planning documents from 2003 and 2004 to explain the discussion that took place. The post also includes a video of the meeting.

Pictured: Planning Staff Comparisons Of 2004 And 2018 Proposals.