Oconee County Commissioners Reject A Request For Delay In Rezone For Expansion Of Epps Bridge Centre

Oconee County commissioners, brushing aside concerns by Athens-Clarke County residents about the negative impact of the development on their residential neighborhoods, unanimously approved a rezone request Tuesday night for the expansion of Epps Bridge Centre.

The commissioners made minor changes to the proposed bylaws and establishing resolution for the Animal Control Board, after continued requests for more dramatic change.

The commissioners postponed action on the Mars Hill Road Overlay District but approved a change to the county’s wastewater treatment capacity policy.

That policy allocates capacity for residential use for the first time since 2008, but Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie said the change would have no real effect because the county does not have sewer capacity to sell for residential use.

The commissioners awarded a contract for $52,700 for a water and sewer rate study and made a change order at a cost of $65,765 for design of Parkway Boulevard Extension, the roadway the county is building to serve as an entranceway to the expanded Epps Bridge Centre.

Over the objections of Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis, the four voting commissioners unanimously approved an employee pay plan championed by Commissioner John Daniell.

Daniell Tuesday night formally announced his resignation from the Board so he can run for the chairmanship position. Davis has announced he is retiring.

For more on this story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Commissioner Jim Luke, responding to citizen complaints about the rezone.