Demorest Council to consider subdivision, ethics program

DEMOREST, Ga. — Demorest City Council will consider a proposed 34-lot residential subdivision off Saluda Drive and hold public hearings on two land-use requests during its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The Council will also consider recertifying the city’s ethics program, renewing a contract with Brad Day, reviewing playground finances, considering an engineering request for qualifications and revisiting bids related to the former post office property.

A special called work session is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Both will be held at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama St.

Proposed Saluda Drive subdivision

One of the meeting’s primary items is a request from McCain Investment Properties LLC to rezone approximately 10.74 acres off Saluda Drive from agricultural (A) to R-2, which allows multifamily residential use.

The proposal calls for a 34-lot subdivision of single-family detached homes. The property is identified as Habersham County Tax Map 078 087A in Tax District 10.

The Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday and consider the rezoning request for final adoption during the same meeting. Interested residents will have an opportunity to speak about the proposal. Plans are available for review at Demorest City Hall during regular business hours.

Special use request on Ivy Street

The Council will also hold a public hearing on a special use permit request from Brent and Stephanie Tolbert for property at 151 Ivy St., Tract 3.

The property consists of approximately 0.89 acres and is identified as Habersham County Tax Map 077 022 in Tax District 05.

Unlike the Saluda Drive rezoning request, the Council is not scheduled to make a final decision on the Ivy Street application Tuesday. According to the public notice, the request is scheduled for consideration during the Dec. 1 council meeting.

Copies of the proposed special use application are available for review at Demorest City Hall.

Ethics program and other city business

The Council will consider recertification of the city’s ethics program, an issue that has drawn attention during previous public meetings. Residents have raised questions about the city’s ethics policies and Board of Ethics, including during public comments at an earlier council meeting.

Tuesday’s agenda lists the item for discussion during the 6 p.m. work session and consideration during the regular meeting.

Other work-session topics include a proposed contract renewal with Brad Day, a financial update on the city’s playground project and an engineering request for qualifications.

The council will also revisit bids for the former post office property, which the city purchased for use in connection with its City Hall parking lot project.

At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Council unanimously approved a 30-day extension of the parking lot bid deadline, through Nov. 18, while awaiting guidance from bond counsel about restrictions tied to the property’s purchase using tax-exempt financing. City officials emphasized at the time that the extension did not constitute acceptance or approval of any bid.

The regular meeting agenda also includes the city manager’s report and a review of financial statements. Public comment is scheduled near the beginning and end of the meeting, with speakers asked to limit remarks to two minutes.

The 6 p.m. work session and 7 p.m. regular meeting are open to the public at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama St.