Planning Commission Recommends Using Shipping Containers For Park

The Oconee County Planning Commission took quick action at its meeting on Monday night on a request by John and Brittany Wardlow that they be given permission to use a barn on their property on Osborne Road to house equipment from their septic cleaning service.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of Wardlow’s request, as well as a request by Tyler McClure that property he owns on Moreland Heights Drive just outside Watkinsville be rezoned for an assisted living facility and general office building.

The Commission deliberated only briefly on that request as well.

In a split vote, and after more than 30 minutes of discussion, the Commission also recommended that Andy Barrs be allowed to use converted shipping containers as food and retail stalls at a community play area he is proposing to build on Hog Mountain Road.

The county planning staff had recommended against Barrs’ request because county code requires that all nonresidential buildings be constructed on site.

Only a small part of the discussion by the Planning Commission dealt with that issue, with more concern expressed about traffic and the lack of pedestrian access to the site, just east of Butler’s Crossing.

The Board of Commissioners will take up the requests by the Wardlows, McClure, and Barrs at its meeting on June 1, as well as requests by Barrs that the county waive a requirement that he buffer his community park from neighboring residential property.

The Planning staff reported unfavorably on that request as well, which was, following normal procedures, not considered by the Planning Commission.

For more on this story, with a video of the Planning Commission meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.