Planning Commission Recommends Approval Of Shopping Center Plans

The Oconee County Planning Commission on Monday recommended approval of a revised plan for development of a 90-acre shopping center and accompanying continuing care retirement community on U.S. 78 between Dials Mill Road and Pete Dickens Road.

The proposal involves a significant reduction from the original plans in the amount and nature of the commercial development and a marked expansion of the residential retirement community component.

One consistency is a proposed 65,000-square-foot grocery, which more than anything caused concern among residents of Belfair subdivision who spoke at the public hearing on Monday. The subdivision abuts the project.

The concept plan before the Planning Commission on Monday includes the grocery store center for larger retailers and a series of smaller, two-story buildings designed for restaurants, local businesses, artisans, coffee shops, and other small retail outlets.

These small buildings will be along a main street that will connect with an independent living community consisting of 101 independent living units including cottages, quadraplex buildings, and flats.

The commercial center and the independent living community also will be linked by internal roadways to two multi-story buildings for both assisted and independent living as well as four quadraplex buildings for independent living.

The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take up the Planning Commission recommendation at its meeting on Sept. 7.

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