The Oconee County Planning Commission voted Dec. 8 to recommend approval of rezoning application P250226, which would change 242.27 acres from agricultural (AG) to single‑family residential (R‑1) as a phase 2 extension of Malcolm Bridge Estates.

Planning staff (identified in the meeting as Mr. Herring) told commissioners the staff report supports conditional approval and lists multiple conditions: a cap of no more than 119 lots for the project; no final plat to be granted for a period of 10 years from the Board of Commissioners' approval; completion and review of a traffic impact study prior to submission of the preliminary plat with scope to be approved by the Director of Planning and Code Enforcement and the Director of Public Works; required road improvements at the owner's expense to maintain Level of Service C; and a 15‑foot landscape easement with specified evergreen and shrub plantings along exterior boundaries and rights‑of‑way abutting Clodfelter Road and Malcolm Bridge Road.

Jeff Carter of Carter Engineering, representing the developer, described the concept plan and told the commission the developer is agreeable to staff's conditions and timing. Carter said the owner initially proposed a five‑year moratorium on building but acknowledged staff increased that to 10 years: "We know we're at least 10 years out. . . . That's the way it's gonna be — around a $1,000,000 for a home," he said, adding the subdivision's average lot size is roughly two acres though R‑1 allows lots down to 1.5 acres.

A nearby resident, Candace West (2261 Malcolm Bridge Road), opposed the rezoning during public comment, saying the intersection is congested, schools are nearby and she worries about child safety near increased traffic: "We don't need any more houses in Oconee County," she said.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant detailed questions about traffic, HOA maintenance and the relationship of Phase 2 to Phase 1; Carter confirmed the Phase 2 connection was platted as part of Phase 1 and said the development would be part of a homeowners association. After questions, Commissioner Nathan moved to approve staff's recommended conditions; the motion received a second and commissioners voted in favor by raised hands. The Planning Commission's approval is a recommendation that will be forwarded to the Oconee County Board of Commissioners for final action.

Next steps: the item will appear on the Board of Commissioners' agenda for consideration; the Planning Commission record will include the staff conditions and the public comments taken at the hearing.