Politics & Government
Oconee County Commission Chairman Turns Work Session On Mars Hill Overlay Into Opportunity For One Land Owner To Complain
The commissioners didn't articulate any consensus on the plan, and it was left with the uncertain future it had when the session began.
Oconee County Board of Commissioner Chairman Melvin Davis yesterday morning turned what was billed as a work session on the proposed Mars Hill Road corridor overlay district into an opportunity for a single land owner, his family and his land planner to call for rejection of the ordinance.
Following 37 minutes of comments by consultant Bill Ross, who developed the overlay plan, Davis turned the session over to Doug Dickens.
Dickens gave a six-minute critique of Ross’ plans before being joined by son Jason and land planner Ken Beall in a back-and-forth with Ross about the plan. Another family member present did not speak.
When Dickens, son Jason and Beall were finished with the exchange more than 30 minutes later, Davis brought the discussion to a halt, thanking Ross for his “time” and responses to the questions raised.
The commissioners didn’t articulate any consensus on the plan, and it was left with the uncertain future it had when the session began.
For more on this story, with video of comments by Dickens, go to Oconee County Observations.
Pictured: Dickens, left, and Ross.