Glynn County commissioners approved application ZM-25-3 to rezone 615 Ocean Boulevard on St. Simons Island from Village Mixed Use with Island Preservation Overlay to Planned Development (PD) with Island Preservation Overlay to allow construction of a single-family dwelling.

Stephanie Leaf, planning and zoning director, summarized that under the property's existing Village Mixed Use zoning the parcel is limited to commercial uses unless a residence existed or was constructed above a commercial use. The property is a substandard lot of record under current rules; moving to a PD, Leaf said, would amend the minimum-lot-size requirement for this lot and allow a standalone single-family home if the PD text is approved.

Leaf told the board the Islands Planning Commission reviewed the proposal on March 18 and recommended approval with a condition: two proposed uses in the original PD text (“government owned/operated facility or land” and “group home”) were removed in the IPC recommendation. The board was asked to approve “version 2” of the PD text, which reflects that change.

The applicants’ agent, Jake Lemmings of Robert Veil Engineering, said the proposed house is a two-story cottage-style design scaled to fit the neighborhood; owners Brenda and Bill McCurdy attended and said they intend to occupy the house much of the year. The site plan submitted to the county shows access from Twelfth Street and Ocean Boulevard and includes a pool, a shed and a required tree plan.

Commissioner Clark moved approval of ZM-25-3 pursuant to version 2 of the PD text as recommended by the Islands Planning Commission; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioner Duncan, who was absent for the meeting, sent a text stating his support and that he had attended the IPC hearing.

No members of the public spoke in opposition during the county hearing; the IPC had considered the property and required the reduced-use PD text before forwarding a recommendation to the board. The county record indicates the previous structure on the lot was a duplex demolished about four to five years ago and that the lot has been vacant since.

Leaf noted that site plan and village-preservation approvals granted by the IPC are contingent on the board’s rezone approval. The board’s action applies the IPC‑recommended PD text (version 2) and removes the two uses the commission had required be omitted.