The Franklin County Commission on Tuesday approved the site plan for a new commercial development on St. George Island, a decision that has caused at least one resignation from the county Planning and Zoning board. Commissioners approved a site plan offered by Olivier Monod for a nearly 8000 square foot commercial building along Franklin Boulevard on St. George Island. The building will provide 1200 square feet of space for a real estate office and over 6700 square feet of space for a grocery store. The proposal has proved controversial, the county’s planning and zoning board recommended that the county reject the plan – the proposed building was also opposed by a number of island residents. Criticism of the building raged from potential traffic issues to garbage concerns. County commissioners, however, said they could find no legal reason to deny the plan. According to county planner Alan Pierce and County attorney Michael Shuler, the site plan met all of the requirements set forth in the county’s zoning code. The county did ask that Mister Monod met certain requirements in that he try to hire local people for the construction of the building. The board also asked that the lighting for the new building be sea turtle conscious and that the light are turned down or off at night. The commission also asked that Monod take steps to insure that trash pickup for the new store happens often enough that garbage does not become an issue. Mister Monod agreed to the requests – he added that the building should take about 6 months to complete, and the construction would create at least 20 jobs. He felt the grocery store would create another thirty full time jobs. After the regular meeting, Planning and Zoning board member Mary Lou Short said she is resigning from the P and Z after 16 years of service. She is the second member of the board to resign in the past week and she said there may be two more resignations on the way. Mrs. Short told the commission that the P and Z applied the same criteria to this development as they have to all others in the past and they found that this one did not meet county requirements. She felt that by ignoring the P and Z recommendation that the county commission set a precedent that brings into question why the county needs a Planning and Zoning Board at all. Mrs. Short added that while the new store may create 30 jobs, it will likely have a major impact on the 22 other business on St. George Island who employ closer to 160 people.
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