Decision on Group Home Expansion delayed again

For the second time in as many months, the Oconee County Board of Zoning Appeals delayed a decision on the expansion of a group home in Mountain Rest. The Board voted Tuesday to table a hearing on Whetstone Academy’s plan to build a new dormitory so they could gather more information. Several people spoke in opposition to the private middle school for troubled boys request to increase its capacity to 32 students. The Board seeks an opinion from the county attorney regarding a 2011 order granting Whetstone Academy a variance to operate may be amended to limit the numbers of students. At issue before the board is whether to grant a variance.