Planning Commission Recommends Rezone For 2 Large Developments

The Oconee County Planning Commission took quick action on Monday on three rezone requests dictated by the county’s settlement of lawsuits involving the massive Parkside and Westland projects that together will bring 1,175 new residential lots to the county.

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners actually brought the rezone requests to the Planning Commission, as called for in the settlement of the lawsuits, and the Planning Commission dutifully recommended to the Board of Commissioners that it approve them.

The Commission is scheduled to act on that recommendation on Jan. 8.

The rezones follow the unanimous vote by the Board of Commissioners at the end of its Oct. 30 meeting to settle the three lawsuits filed by owners of the Parkside and Westland projects.

As part of that settlement, the county agreed to rezone the properties, modifying the rezones approved in 2003 and 2004 and decreasing the number and nature of residential lots in both cases.

Build-out of the projects, both currently mothballed, will be staggered over time to decrease the impact on the county’s school system.

A new road in the Parkside project will provide a second entrance to Oconee Veterans Park, and approximately 125 acres in Westland along the Apalachee River and its tributaries will be put in a Conservation Easement.

For more on the story, please go to Oconee County Observations. The post includes maps, comparison charts, and a list of conditions of the rezones, along with a video of the Planning Commission meeting.

Pictured: Concept plans for Westland and Parkside.