‘Domes at Jocassee’ Denied By Zoning Board, Approval Given To Monopole Tower

The Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals last night heard a presentation for the Domes at Jocassee to locate within the lake overlay district…

And, local tourist leaders gave their endorsement for the 12-site camping facility that would have been located on the outskirts of the Devil’s Fork State Park. Ken Sloan, director of Visit Oconee, said he believes Domes at Jocassee would be a nice addition to Oconee’s tourist resources…

But it wasn’t enough to convince some in the area the Domes were a good idea. Fifteen of seventeen speakers at last night’s hearing opposed the project for reasons ranging from noise, traffic, and the potential destruction of Oconee Bell wild flowers, including area resident Chris Lynch…

While the developers of the project said they had a plan to protect the Oconee Bell, conservationist Frank Holleman said that no plan has been shown…

In the end, the zoning board denied the special exception for the project.

Also at their meeting last night, the Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to grant the approval of an application by AT&T for a monopole tower at Mountain Rest in the area of Highway 107. The single stem communications tower will be anchored to the ground and rise 195′ into the air. Boar Chair Jim Codner referenced where the tower will be set up, when he said at last night’s meeting, that it would be virtually invisible.