Planning Commission

Planning Commission Chairman - Paul Bathe Vice-Chair - Chris Beach Wilbur Aiken Anthony Altizer Linda Nease

The Planning Commission serves as the public’s first opportunity to comment on proposed planning and zoning changes. Its duty is to engage in a continuing program for the physical, social, and economic growth, development, and redevelopment of the City. Additionally, the Planning Commission prepares and periodically revises the City of Hardeeville Comprehensive Plan and all implementation measures required to carry out the goals of the Comprehensive Plan, including: zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and an official map.

The Planning Commission may prepare and recommend revised zoning ordinances or amendments to the Ordinance to the City Council and review and make recommendations concerning amendments to the City of Hardeeville Zoning Ordinance. The HPC reviews zoning change requests and assignments, Planned Development District applications, Master Plan requests and makes recommendations to City Council on these projects.

Administrative Functions of the Hardeeville Planning Commission 

1. The HPC prepares and periodically revises the City of Hardeeville Comprehensive Plan and all implementation measures required to carry out the goals of the Comprehensive Plan, including:
     A. Zoning ordinances;
     B. Subdivision regulations; and
     C. An official map
2. The HPC may prepare and recommend revised zoning ordinances or amendments to the Ordinance to the City Council and review and make recommendations concerning amendments to the City of Hardeeville Zoning Ordinance and Development Ordinance.
3. The HPC administers land development regulations and landscaping, highway corridor overlay, and other similar regulations, as applicable under this Ordinance and amendments.
4. The HPC must catalog public improvements needed in the City, place them in a logical chronological order, and rank them.  An annual list of priority projects should be forwarded to the City Council.                                                              

Board of Zoning Appeals 

The City’s planning and zoning ordinances are written with the citizen’s best interest in mind but sometimes exceptions need to be made and that’s the function of the City of Hardeeville Zoning Board of Appeals. It primarily reviews variance, special exception applications and appeals to administrative decisions.

A variance allows the applicant to depart from the standard rules. Variances alleviate "unnecessary hardship," which typically refers to hardship inherent in the physical characteristics of the land. Special exceptions are those uses in the zoning ordinance allowed in specific zoning districts after a special review. The list of allowed special exception uses is generally contained in the zoning ordinance under each zone classification to which it applies.

Powers of the Zoning Board of Appeals

1. To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in an order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the City of Hardeeville Zoning Ordinance.
2. To hear and decide appeals for variance from the requirements of the City of Hardeeville Zoning Ordinance when strict application of the provisions of the Ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship.
3. To hear and decide applications for Special Exception as authorized in the City of Hardeeville Zoning Ordinance.

Meeting Dates

• The Planning Commission meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 1 pm.
• The Board of Zoning Appeals meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3 pm.

Membership applications can be obtained by contacting the Hardeeville Planning Department.

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