Commissioners send variance request back to zoning

CLAYTON — At the regularly scheduled Rabun County Board of Commissioners meeting, held Tuesday night, commission members considered approval of a zoning request but voted to have it sent back to the zoning board due to false advertisement.

A legal notice for the public was advertised in the local publication, as well as listed under agenda topics, for board members to vote upon: consider for approval a request from Greg Garcia requesting a variance to subdivide into two lots contiguous with existing River Vista Mountain. Property is 2.27 acres and is located on Highway 246, Tax Parcel 047A-067A.

Although legitimate time was allocated for public notice regarding the zoning request, an employee of Compass Development, acting as a proxy for Greg Garcia, was present who informed the board the information posted was not factual.

Don Harkrider said although the total acreage of 2.27 was correct, the intended amount of lots which would be placed on the property for private ownership would be more like nine to 14, not two, which was originally posted.

Harkrider said the new property would mirror the River Vista Mountain Village located in Dillard. The lots would feature a 500 square feet cabin on a quarter of an acre with municipal sewer and water.

Greg James, Chairman, said in order to vote for or against the variance request, it would first have to be re-submitted to the Planning & Zoning Office for proper advertisement. Additionally, a final plat with detailed intentions of what the land would entail was also requested.

Les Neely, Planning & Zoning Officer, told WRBN the hearing for the request will be held Monday, February 26.