[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6253405,"mediaKeyId","3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42","parentId",3180392,"title","Commission approves two final plats and a massage operator’s license","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",952000,"endMs",1094000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42&start=952&end=1094","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42/thumbnail_952000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253405/Columbia-County/Georgia/Commission-approves-two-final-plats-and-a-massage-operators-license","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253405-73ad8333a9655cb56bf61d1aee54dd86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104331&Signature=PAbgNRhKM1T6zSOjYCY5IYHMz7yV0GwLemuRZ49052DXMf2-PrW2C9XxppTsRpEbl6HZ8DaPl4p-0JW7RVTHZTKQ0jPWZFkad8U6X5d7n3y1Wh1RnKP64rsdwp42byCYOEEAdoq1gPzxf9gypYwQvbA9brgDkyKeXbmjTEBGqr5JXSo91pRM61i70gtfym0gvdLhophhO-goX~7~UwWscwKsP8RDtZKVlFHBXrNfa7YlG3AmtOjdJc-UdVnG39qTsgvMdnr7~KvdOI4jIzdm0uyhqaclUpilw-ZT~zM-pQ3BrLzBaXsDauxK7M3g0OnFDbAq2GQkj9CCFZN-wziUwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-02T11:24:34Z","article","The Columbia County Planning Commission approved three routine items during its meeting: the final plat for Highland Lakes West Section 1, the final plat for Rabbit Run Phase 2, and a façade (massage operator) license for Awaken Renewed LLC.

Staff presented Highland Lakes West Section 1 as a final plat for a development on the south side of William Few Parkway. The section includes 55 single-family residential lots with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet and an average lot size of about 10,676 square feet; the packet noted 0.92 acres of open space within this section. Planning staff recommended approval, and commissioners approved the final plat by voice/hand vote.

Rabbit Run Phase 2, described by staff as the western portion of an overall development on Cobham Road, includes six larger residential acreage lots with minimum lot sizes of about 5.07 acres and an average lot size of approximately 12.5 acres; a seventh lot preserves an existing cemetery. Staff recommended approval, and the commission approved the final plat.

The commission also approved a façade operator’s license for Awaken Renewed LLC, relocating to 3685 Riverwatch Parkway, Suite 105. Staff confirmed the business met ordinance requirements and recommended approval.

All three approvals were recorded in the meeting by voice/hand vote; the transcript does not provide roll-call tallies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbia County | Planning Commission (May 1st)","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission approved final plats for Highland Lakes West Section 1 and Rabbit Run Phase 2 and granted a façade operator’s (massage) license to Awaken Renewed LLC at Riverwatch Parkway.","taxTitle","Columbia County, Georgia","taxId",12804,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253410,"Planning commission recommends rezoning for Ridge Road boat/RV storage despite strong neighbor opposition",1934,2994000,4928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42&start=2994&end=4928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42/thumbnail_2994000.jpg","/articles/6253410/Columbia-County/Georgia/Planning-commission-recommends-rezoning-for-Ridge-Road-boatRV-storage-despite-strong-neighbor-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253410-4ff30440c0ed035f1aa1d911c6af2ed7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104331&Signature=QHSnRYyEl5zpJktP~igTgdsGArXwxLFgBcOV~-lqjPH3OXsNrQUZTk4VehYB5Y6v8Wwgl~UG5TNmjGCUzmFGaqmowJZFwLtKx1CFxz-Q-M3VFkjVS2s3lSEaGECalBGx9kzmDEhjaH~ZL-z-CQLpVlLOwZREYkvzTFJk20YpC9lsBko3Umf7t7lbK3zRoD0XQK3EvVNdywpEx9GqnIKw1Voh8Gw160M7qryo8bnw93rBHII1X~yJoHVGsD6ik1c0l6sC5N1AoZeGhf0SLAbsrPVfET505Sj~bV-4jG0U~isBUYyBjwi7NjrHvbn60J~twIANpZeeWwulHV9eQ14mZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning to allow a covered boat and RV storage facility on a 10.62-acre parcel off Ridge Road, a decision that followed extensive public opposition and a staff recommendation to deny the request.

Staff told the commission the parcel sits on the edge of the Lake Neighborhood future land-use designation and that, while S1 uses are listed as possible, the county’s development pattern typically places storage facilities closer to the lake. Because of that context, staff recommended disapproval.

Jacob Glover, representing Meister and Marbin LLC (the applicant), said the project team had conducted community outreach, prepared a site plan with 70,000 square feet of covered storage plus enclosed units, and proposed screening, downcast lighting and gated access. “Lightings will be positioned downward. Lehi lighting, 0 candle foot lighting, no lighting pollution,” Glover said as he described proposed lighting and security measures.

Nearby residents strongly opposed the project at the public hearing. John Bridal, who lives adjacent to the parcel, said the entry and exit geometry at Ridge Road and Washington Road created safety risks for RVs and boat trailers. “The neighborhood perspective is, as Mr. Holloway has said, primarily the safety concern,” Bridal told the commission. Julie Harrison, a resident two and a half miles down Ridge Road, presented a petition she said had more than 200 signatures and echoed safety and traffic concerns on the narrow, winding Ridge Road.

Applicant representatives and the development team said the proposed use would generate fewer than 100 vehicle trips per day and that security, landscaping and lighting plans would mitigate neighborhood impacts. Planning staff noted the site plan was well developed from a site-design perspective but reiterated that the future land-use pattern and peripheral location weighed against approval.

After public comment and discussion, the commission voted to recommend approval of RZ25-503, rezoning the parcel to S1 for the storage facility. The transcript shows the commission approved the motion by voice/hand vote; the staff recommendation of disapproval and neighborhood opposition were recorded in the hearing.","The commission voted to recommend rezoning a 10.6-acre Ridge Road parcel to S1 for a covered boat and RV storage facility after a contested hearing with residents citing safety, traffic and lighting concerns; staff had recommended disapproval.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253415,"Commission recommends rezoning for Evans outparcel but denies variances for drive-through and setback",1018,1115000,2133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42&start=1115&end=2133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42/thumbnail_1115000.jpg","/articles/6253415/Columbia-County/Georgia/Commission-recommends-rezoning-for-Evans-outparcel-but-denies-variances-for-drive-through-and-setback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253415-7246d638a66b9515be17e5c380c4daa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104331&Signature=XPvrVpmUWmAgQfbFdSDWXy8QKC5Bs0IfPw7-SvfjiyyLyC11NJ3CXSR~UQ0LqHUWLLJcsuWo3kI91BiCd61FCCQnhsgk6qlT0F2R7gXuby3iAtt1yehaa3HybZ-hocDnRTqrPX8ChXpg9Lru2NT0XAY7tIRHF3WsbB~vOvbsN4AywHYcxsgIComO-ARwNZG2eemyfBpr5c7uZG6K9RPeTc0GKJB957pwks~92KTOUQeUtysYRhZEqyqypHIXDAdspFGPeNnuh4JBQsz9rlw-4WZDmQJD2QEw5fbR0epMgak8gMY~-oLCmeeJZ7ZPQLVfcgZIGKDXlgzkQk5rxLyCXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning at 515 North Bel Air Road that would unify split C1/C2 zoning to C2, but the commission recommended against requested variances that would allow a drive-through between a proposed bank building and the public road and would remove the maximum front setback requirement.

Planning staff presented the rezoning and an associated variance request. Staff recommended approval of the rezoning to make the site consistently C2, and recommended disapproval of the variances given design and Evanstown Center overlay concerns.

Gerald Chichester, attorney for the applicant, told the commission the project team had worked with staff and remained open to alternatives. Joel Delli Carpini, the site engineer, said the proposed drive-up feature was an ATM rather than a full-service drive-through and estimated stacking for the ATM at about two cars. “When you drop down to Washington Road, you know, it's got about a 20 foot drop off there,” Delli Carpini said as he described how topography affects building placement and screening.

Quinn Gatto, representing Phillips Edison and Company (the owner), described several iterations of the site plan and said the development team had reduced the number of variances requested during negotiations with staff.

After discussion, the commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning (RZ 250501). On the variance package (VA2505-1), a motion to recommend disapproval carried. The transcript records votes by voice/hand; no roll-call tallies were provided.","The Planning Commission recommended rezoning a split-zoned property at 515 North Bel Air Road to C2 but voted to recommend denial of requested variances for drive-through placement and removal of a maximum front setback at the same site.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253420,"Planning commission backs rezoning for proposed White Oak Technology Park after lengthy data center discussion",839,2145000,2984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42&start=2145&end=2984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180392-a8d100d3bc90dabb3f69144b60ffcb42/thumbnail_2145000.jpg","/articles/6253420/Columbia-County/Georgia/Planning-commission-backs-rezoning-for-proposed-White-Oak-Technology-Park-after-lengthy-data-center-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253420-78f657afd086ac26bc949b193464058f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104331&Signature=kqve6l8RMGzyDnKacjkbPBlX1Z5CXLflG8eiqdKcJ6Eh4fSN5lcugc91ogrkLXxKPHDC9TwfzNqD~KpQVMV6rtToaqBtVTQJnOk0cHp4K3I4kvOdxdRa3HZ7YEKTSGOyAnZPEflDD~WXRu-k-iXv1xNIGSYfi5OhQNaaa3rgwfL2SOsLrH-kLIc7b-PpHBVF4v6kiiVCeDoc6NcUAcw1Uf17ydzUS5sjQfKamwTI7apXR~3IbkXn4s0F46y8lJypY0Re9GgIrZUWw1WpY2FrandizRNRj85qp-s1IppRMoONZyPkbYCF3YcTrHLS6StUGX4mgeB2i1MGF5pFLEfhMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval of a rezoning to create the White Oak Technology Park, a large multi-parcel data center development that applicants said could include multiple 250,000-square-foot buildings and supporting power infrastructure.

The commission made the recommendation after staff described the project and after representatives for the Development Authority of Columbia County and the property owners answered commissioners’ questions about water use, traffic, job counts and operational impacts.

The project would rezone roughly 1,900 acres to S1 (Special) to permit an Auto/Technology Park-type development. Planning staff described the application as a large-scale, phased technology campus with multiple building “pods,” substations adjacent to each pod and a 500-foot residential building setback around the project. Staff said the county could phase utilities and required environmental and traffic studies during review.

Chaney Eldridge, executive director of the Development Authority of Columbia County, told the commission she and county leadership identified data centers as a priority for the county’s economic development strategy. “Data centers as the number 1 industry that we should be targeting to get that,” Eldridge said, citing due diligence visits to similar facilities.

Engineers and developers described worst-case and likely operational scenarios. Drew Frederick, an engineer with Trail and Crow Company, said some cooling systems evaporate about 70% of process water and that “about 30% of it would go and, in most cases, it would go into a recycling, go into a cistern or to a pond, be treated and reused.” Commissioners were also told the highest near-term water estimates reflect a full, immediate buildout and that the county and utilities could manage phased growth.

Speakers for the applicant and property owner emphasized the project would employ relatively few permanent staff compared with its size; technical staff said an operating building might have “roughly about 50 people per building,” while construction would generate higher, temporary traffic and workforce demands.

Residents and other meeting participants raised concerns about noise from generators and chillers, nighttime lighting, and potential emergency generator testing during high-demand periods. Planning staff said those concerns were noted in the project narrative and that additional, project-specific mitigation — including noise limits, downcast lighting and covenants — could be addressed in later permitting and site-plan stages.

After discussion, a motion to recommend approval of the rezoning carried. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action.","The Columbia County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning to create the White Oak Technology Park, a multi-site data center project, after staff presentations and developer testimony that addressed water use, phasing, noise and lighting concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves two final plats and a massage operator’s license

Planning commission recommends rezoning for Ridge Road boat/RV storage despite strong neighbor opposition

Commission recommends rezoning for Evans outparcel but denies variances for drive-through and setback

Planning commission backs rezoning for proposed White Oak Technology Park after lengthy data center discussion