County planners to take closer look at I-85, exit 4

On the motion of new member Gary Gaulin, the Oconee Planning Commission will take a close look at I-85 exit 4 at Whitfield Road, with an eye to eliminate the safety and traffic concerns raised by residents of the Fair Play area.  In late January, the county Board of Zoning Appeals approved four variances that’ll allow for a Speedway fuel station on Grubbs Road. Gaulin is worried that the issues at the 85 exit are potentially life or death.  So far, planning commissioner Mike Johnson has seen photographs of lines of tractor trailer trucks, but he wants to see more—such as aerial view of the situation.  And the commission will look to its staff to compile additional photographs and information.  As Johnson’s fellow commissioner Alex Vassey put it last night:  “No matter when those pictures were taken, that’s going to be a growing area….If we don’t look at it now, we may wake up ten years from now and have  even a worse situation….”