The location of the proposed dealerships.

All three of Oconee County’s voting commissioners acknowledge meeting with the representative of the developer seeking to rezone properties on Highway 316 at Virgil Langford Road for auto dealerships—at least one of which is currently located in Clarke County—but each said he has not yet decided how to vote on the request.

Commissioner William “Bubber” Wilkes said he met with Jon Williams of Williams and Associates to discuss the project, and Commissioner Jim Luke said he met with Williams and with another representative of the applicant.

Commissioner Mark Saxon responded after an initial posting of this story saying that he, too, met with Williams to discuss the multi-dealership complex on nearly 30 acres on the south side of 316 just west of Virgil Langford Road.

The Planning Commission on Monday night voted 7-2 against recommending the project for Board of Commissioners approval after citizens voiced concerns about the plans.

The issue is scheduled to come before the Board of Commissioners for final action on June 7.

The rezone narrative submitted to the Oconee County Planning Department on Apr. 20 indicates that developer “TT of Athens” had engaged Williams and Associates, an engineering and land planning firm located at 2470 Daniells Bridge Road in Oconee County, to assist in the development.

Mercedes-Benz of Athens was identified at the Planning Commission meeting on Monday night as the planned occupant of the first lot in the complex to be developed. Mercedes-Benz of Athens currently is located at 4735 Atlanta Highway.

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