Judge denies appeal of an Oconee zoning decision

A circuit judge ruled today against an appeal by members of an Oconee family who felt aggrieved by a county zoning decision affecting property near Lake Keowee.  An order by Judge Cordell Maddox filed today in the Common Pleas Court denies the appeal by members of the Ratliff family, owners of land on Ellenburg Road.  Maddox ruled that a decision by the Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals was not arbitrary, was not capricious and further, the board did not abuse its discretion.  On April 25, the board granted an engineering and survey company a variance of 18 feet from right-of-way to build a public road.  The decision in favor of a variance was seen as expanding a dead-end road to allow for a 19-home subdivision.  Part of Ellenburg became a dead-end road after the construction of Lake Keowee 50 years ago.  Part of the judge’s order dismisses a summons and complaint by Ratliff family members against the board of appeals and the Ridgewater Survey and Engineering Company.