Oconee County Planning Commission Grants Presbyterian Homes of Georgia Request for Delay

Come Back In June

The Oconee County Planning Commission voted tonight to accept the request of Presbyterian Homes of Georgia for a postponement of consideration of its request for a rezone of 96 acres on Rocky Branch Road for a continuing care retirement community.

Smith Planning Group, 1022 Twelve Oaks Place, just east of Butler’s Crossing, sent a fax to the Oconee County Planning Department seven minutes before official closing time today asking for the delay on behalf of his client Frank McElroy, president and CEO of PHG.

Oconee County Planning Staff Recommends Against Presbyterian Homes of Georgia Rezone Request

Proponents And Opponents Are Many

The Oconee County planning staff has recommended against approval of the requested rezone by Presbyterian Homes of Georgia for 96 acres on Rocky Branch Road and against the special use request to construct a continuing care retirement community on the site.

The staff report, completed on Nov. 30, states that the request to rezone the Autumn Glen subdivision across from Old Waverly for the PHG facility “appears to conflict with the development goals and strategies” the county has established for the area.

County Submitted Application For Federal Funds To Extend Oconee Veterans Park Trail

End Dead End

Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask him when the walking trail at Veterans Park will be completed, Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department Director John Gentry told the Board of Commissioners at its meeting on Nov. 6.

That trail now dead ends abruptly behind the soccer fields on the eastern side of the popular park on Hog Mountain Road west of Butler’s Crossing.

Oconee County Commissioners Call For Drafting Of Resolution Supporting Overhaul Of House Redistricting

Davis Skeptical

Oconee County commissioners last night asked County Attorney Daniel Haygood and Administrative Officer Jeff Benko to draft a resolution for next week’s meeting that would call for the county to be reunited in a single district in the Georgia House of Representatives.

While Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis expressed doubts about the initiative, Commissioners Chuck Horton and Jim Luke made strong statements of support for such a resolution. Commissioner Margaret Hale also said she wants the county to have a single representative.

Oconee County and Walton County Votes On Hard Labor Creek Loan Postponed to January

Negotiating Something New

The Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board has postponed the dates for approval of a state loan for construction of the 1,400-acre reservoir in southeastern Walton County pending the outcome of negotiations over the language of the loan contracts.

The loan documents as presented to the Board obligate only Walton County to repay the loan, while both Walton County and Oconee County officials expected and want the debt to be split on the agreed-upon ratio of 71/29, with Oconee County the minority partner.

Oconee County Commissioner Horton Seeking Support for Revisiting Georgia House Redistricting

Quick, Williams Offer Views

Oconee County Commissioner Chuck Horton has asked County Administrative Officer Jeff Benko to add legislative redistricting to the agenda for the Board of Commissioners meetings scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.

Horton told me in email messages from Sunday and again today that he will ask the BOC to endorse an effort to restore Oconee County to a single district in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Oconee County Code Enforcement Issued Permits for Theaters at Epps Bridge Center

Red and Black

Construction is underway on the University 16 Stadium Theatre at Epps Bridge Centre following the issuance last month by the Oconee County Code Enforcement Office of a foundation permit and a shell permit for the 70,412-square-foot building.

The county currently is reviewing detailed building plans for the theater prior to issuing a full building permit.