Appeals board to take convincing

Many who live near the four-way stop intersection of Ebenezer and Keowee School roads have arisen in opposition to the idea of a Dollar General store in their midst.  And the onus is now on the developers to detail how their store would look as adapted to Oconee’s preferred building style of “rustic elegance.”  The request for a special exception was aired out during a hearing last night by the county Board of Zoning Appeals.  Developers Tab and Lauren Patton proposed a 9,100 square foot building.  Nearby resident Frederick Woctor said the board should not consider the project because of traffic problems of narrow roads in the vicinity, and board member Sam Lee said he has issues with potential traffic problems there.  Woctor also raised doubt the developers can come up with a color scheme pleasing to the county.  He told the board, “You can put lipstick on a pig but it’s still ugly.”  The request to grant a special exception for the project will be taken up again at a board meeting next month.