THE PLANNING BOARD OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GA
AUGUST 25, 2014
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Board Member Peter Higgins called the meeting to order.
II.
INVOCATION
Board Member Jasper Lee gave the invocation.
III.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
Board Member Peter Higgins led the pledge.
IV.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Board Member Peter Higgins asked if there were any changes to the
agenda. Mr. George Shaw confirmed there were no changes. Mr.
Alphonso Giles made a motion to approve the agenda as read. Mrs.
Jasper Lee seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimously.
V.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board Member Peter Higgins asked if there were any corrections or
additions to the July 28, 2014 meeting minutes. Mr. Alphonso Giles made
a motion to approve the minutes as read. Mr. Jeff Wilkes seconded the
motion. The motion carried by unanimously.
Members Attending:
Mr. Jeff Wilkes, Mr. Alphonso Giles, Mrs. Juanita
Golden, Mr. Peter Higgins, Mr. Jasper Lee, Mr. Bill Sillers
Members Absent:
Mr. Tim Uzupan, Mr. Dave Burns
Staff Present:
Mr. George Shaw, Zoning Administrator and Ms. Kayla
Cauley, Planning Board Secretary
Persons Attending:
Mr. Robert Oglesby, Mrs. Nina Dasher, Mr. Nobel
Boykin, Mr. Cordell Woods, Mrs. Peggy Saxon, Mrs.
Laverne Mason, Mr. Richard Usher, Mrs. Bonnie MeeksMcIver, Mrs. Linda Burke, Mr. Harry Edwards, Mrs. Kim
Johnson, Mr. Warren Poythress, Mr. Ronnie Drake, Mr.
“MINUTES OF THE EFFINGHAM COUNTY PLANNING BOARD – AUGUST 25, 2014”
David Rountree, Mrs. Linda Rountree, Mr. Roger
Holcombe, Mr. Clint Holcombe
VI.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Board Member Peter Higgins stated all items voted on would be presented at
the September 16, 2014 Board of Commissioners meeting as a public hearing
(with the exception of residential business and pond requests)
East Coast Utilites, LLC - PUBLIC HEARING (1):
The applicant requests to
rezone 32.0 acres for [Map# 302 Parcel# 17] located at 109 Pine Street AR-1 to
I-1. (First District)
Mr. Robert Ogelsby already has a surfacing mine. He is asking for an extension
on his permit for a few more years to continue mining. Mrs. Nina Dasher
brought a petition from neighbors living in the area who are opposed to the
extension of the permit and the rezoning of the property. She stated that
many of the residences that live on Pine Street have lived there for 40 plus
years. The noise and trucks from the mining pit is a nuisance. Mr. Noble Boykin
a lawyer that Mrs. Dasher has spoken with said that Mr. Ogelsby has not had
the truck drivers maintain the 15 mph speed limit or wet the roads to keep the
dust down. Mr. Cornell Woods said that for the last 12 years he has been
breathing dirt and dust and he is tired of it. Mrs. Bonnie Meeks-McIver stated
that 12 years ago the planning board and county commissioners denied the
application for the mining pit, and then the county was sued and the
settlement statement gave them a 12 year permit. Who’s to say that won’t
happen again this time? Mr. George Shaw said that changing the zoning to I-1
the board can set stipulations that the owners will have to abide by. Mr. Jeff
Wilkes stated that 12 years is more than enough time for digging a surface
mine.
Mr. Jeff Wilkes made a motion to deny the request. The motion was seconded
by Mrs. Juanita Golden. The motion carried unanimously.
International Worship Center – PUBLIC HEARING (2):
The applicant requests
a conditional use for [Map# 354 Parcel#51] located at 6924 Hwy 17 South to
open a school on site, zoned AR-1. (First District)
Mrs. Linda Burke says the church has wanted to start a preschool and pre-k
center since the church has opened. Eventually they would like to have a K12 school. The preschool would be the three year olds and the pre-k program
would be for the four and five year olds. The school would be located inside
the church and already has a fenced in playground for the children. Mr. Harry
Edwards lives across the street from the church. He said that Effingham County
already has two private schools and is one of the top rated public school
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“MINUTES OF THE EFFINGHAM COUNTY PLANNING BOARD – AUGUST 25, 2014”
systems in the state. He believes opening a school will increase the traffic on
Hwy 17 which is already a busy road. He is also concerned that if they have to
widen the road he will lose property. He also said that the lighting and the
church sign is a nuisance. Mrs. Kim Johnson lives on the property right behind
the church. She asked if they were going to build another structure for the
school. She stated that there isn’t a fence around the property, only around
the playground. Mr. Clint Holcombe is a parent living in Effingham County. A
lot of the pre-k programs in Effingham County are lottery funded with limited
available spots. He feels that as a parent he should be able to choose where
he takes his children to pre-k and he likes the fact that this will be a good
Christian environment where his children can learn.
Mr. Jeff Wilkes made a motion to approve the request with the following
stipulations:
1. Any changes to the site will require a new site plan.
2. Applicant must submit plan showing adequate parking exists.
3. Any structural, electrical or plumbing changes will require building
permits.
4. Must be a preschool and pre-k program only.
5. Six foot cyclone fence around entire property.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Jasper Lee. The motion carried unanimously.
Warren Poythress – PUBLIC HEARING (3):
The applicant requests a sketch
plan for [Map# 374 Parcel#18] located Zittrouer Road for Old South Subdivision
Phase II, zoned R-1. (First District)
Mr. Warren Poythress representing Old South property and asking for sketch
approval. Phase II of Old South will have County Water and Septic Tanks and
the drainage goes into Skinner Bay. Mr. Ronnie Drake owns two lots in Phase I
of Old South and he has cleared his lots, he has put up no trespassing signs on
his property. He is upset that the surveyors are driving across his property to
gain access to the property behind him when there is a legal access a couple
lots down from his property. He said that when he cleared his lots he left a few
trees and he has noticed that there are chainsaw marks in his trees. Mr.
Warren Poythress will see to it the best he can that nothing else happens to his
or anyone else’s property. Mr. David Rountree owns the property next to Old
South. He wanted to know if there would be some kind of birm or fencing
between the neighborhood and his property. Mrs. Linda Rountree asked if the
water can be diverted to the back of the property instead of at the ditches?
The water is being backed up because the ditches aren’t being cleaned out.
Mr. Jeff Wilkes asked about green space and where the children in the
neighborhood are going to play?
Mr. Jeff Wilkes made a motion to deny the request. The motion was seconded
by Mrs. Juanita Golden. The motion was carried 3/2 with Mr. Bill Sillers and Mr.
Alphonso Giles opposed to the motion.
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“MINUTES OF THE EFFINGHAM COUNTY PLANNING BOARD – AUGUST 25, 2014”
Roger Hocombe – PUBLIC HEARING (4):
The applicant requests a variance
for [Map# 430 Parcel#38] located at 135/275 Milton Rahn Road to subdivide
more than 3 lots off an easement, zoned AR-1. (Fourth District)
Mr. Roger Holcombe said that right now the easement services four
residences. Mr. Holcombe said that when he bought the property at the end
of Milton Rahn Road he also owned the road and he has granted access to
the other residences using the easement.
Mr. Jeff Wilkes made a motion to approve the request.
seconded by Mr. Bill Sillers. The motion carried unanimously.
VIII.
The motion was
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm.
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CHAIRMAN OF PLANNING BOARD
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA
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PLANNING BOARD SECRETARY
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