GAINESVILLE – While online meetings have greatly assisted Hall County leaders in executing the business of the county, in one case the use of technology is actually the reason an item of business before the Hall County Commission needed to be tabled.
In compliance with COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday’s county commission meeting was streamed online. The meeting included an agenda item protesting a recommendation handed down from the March 16, 2020, Hall County Planning Commission meeting. The public has the right to appeal decisions made by the Planning Commission according to §17.370.010.
(That March 16 Planning Commission meeting was one of the last public meetings hosted by Hall County before COVID-19 restrictions took effect. Since March 20th meetings have limited the public to online participation only.)
According to Hall County Director of Planning and Development Sarah McQuade, the individual filing the appeal, “...has requested that this item be tabled until we can meet in person because she and some of the surrounding property owners have limited access to internet.”
The individual filing the appeal mentioned by McQuade is Sally Oiler of Forest Way in Braselton.
Oiler is one of five people who spoke in opposition March 16th to a special use request for a 1.66-acre site on Forest Way made by Tom Oliver of Flowery Branch. Oiler brought with her a petition signed by other neighbors also in opposition to Oliver’s application, asking the Planning Commission to recommend denial of Oliver’s request.
Despite the opposition of Oiler and others, Oliver’s special use application was unanimously recommended for approval by the Hall County Planning Commission, and now Oiler is appealing that decision.
In her appeal application now before the Hall County Commission, Oiler accuses Oliver of “misrepresentation”, having the signed petitions supporting opposition to Oliver’s plan presented March 16th ignored by the Planning Commission, and Oliver being the recipient of “favoritism by the board members for an old ’trend setting colleague’”.
Oliver once served as Chairman of the Hall County Commission.
Oiler’s request that her appeal be tabled is the second such request; her appeal was initially tabled at the April 21st Hall County Commission meeting.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to table Oiler’s appeal until the next commission meeting (scheduled for May 28th) or for as long as necessary.
Click here to view Oiler’s appeal application.
