In a recent government meeting, the board addressed two significant rezoning requests that could impact local land use and development.

The first item involved a request from Marshall Davis III to rezone a one-acre parcel from Agricultural Residential (AR 1) to a more permissive AR 2 designation. This change is necessary as the current AR 1 zoning requires a minimum of five acres, and the one-acre plot falls short of this threshold. The board discussed the implications of the rezoning, noting that it would allow for additional permitted uses under the AR 2 classification. Staff recommended approval, contingent upon the completion and recording of a plat by development services. The motion to approve the rezoning was unanimously carried by the board.

The second item on the agenda was a request from Chad Zittauer, representing the University of Georgia Foundation, to rezone 25 acres of a 1,338-acre property from AR 1 to Planned Development Mining Reclamation (PDMR). This request is part of an expansion of an existing bar pit operation located on Highway 17. The board noted that the original 48 acres had been rezoned to industrial in 2019, and due to updated regulations, any expansions of 10 acres or more now require a PDMR designation. Zittauer clarified that the expansion would not create a new mining site but would extend the existing operation, which has been in place since 2020. The board acknowledged the staff's recommendations and the motion to approve the rezoning was also passed without opposition.

Both requests reflect ongoing efforts to adapt local zoning regulations to meet the needs of landowners while ensuring compliance with updated ordinances. The board's decisions will facilitate the proposed developments, subject to the outlined conditions.