WC planning commission greenlights two new Gray subdivisions, approves rezonings

The Washington County Regional Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat for two new subdivisions Tuesday at its regular monthly meeting. The commission also approved three rezonings, a site plan request submitted by Bright Road Wireless Transmission Facility and a text amendment. One rezoning request was unanimously denied, and another was deferred to next month's meeting. The commission also deferred the BWX Technologies site plan to next month's meeting. Rezoning requests Commission members approved a rezoning request for a proposed subdivision on more than 22 acres of land off Douglas Shed Road in Gray submitted by Gouge, Little & Associates. The rezoning request was from A-1 to R-1A allowing for single-family residential development. If the rezoning request is approved by the full commission, the petitioner would need to come back to the county for the approval of a site plan to begin development. If approved, the subdivision will be completed in two phases for development of 40 houses. The commission also approved two other rezoning requests, denied one and deferred another. The request deferred was for the rezoning of a parcel on Cedar Creek Road from R-1 low density residential district to R-3A high density residential district for the purpose of finishing phase two of the Poplar Ridge Apartments in Gray. Three county residents spoke in opposition of the request during public comment explaining the area has become unsafe due to ongoing construction on the site. The rezoning request will be reconsidered by the commission next month. Subdivision requests The commission approved two subdivision preliminary plat requests on Adams Street and Boones Station Road in Gray. "The subdivision regulations require that any time public improvements are proposed that it follows the preliminary subdivision plan process," Christopher Pape, planning and zoning analyst at the Washington County Planning and Zoning office, said. Both requested subdivisions propose new public road infrastructure, which is why the petitioners must submit a preliminary plat and final plat before submitting a site plan. The Adam Street preliminary plat request submitted by Day and Wilson GP proposes the property be split into four lots and three new public roads. The request was approved with two variances to subdivision regulations regarding speed bumps and a turnaround. If the preliminary plat, final plat and site plan are all approved by the full commission, it would allow for the development of 62 single-family dwellings, Pape said. The commission also approved another preliminary plat for a similar subdivision on Boones Station Road submitted by Buckingham Development LLC. The site plan was presented for reference with the plan to develop 60 duplex units. All agenda items considered by the regional planning commission will now go in front of the full commission at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the George P. Jaynes Justice Center.