Commission recommends additional freestanding sign at North Bel Air Road for Wellstar surgery center

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Sept. 18 recommended approval of a master sign plan revision for the medical campus at 447 North Bel Air Road to allow one additional freestanding sign on North Bel Air Road identifying the surgery center now operated by Wellstar. Danielle, planning staff, said the campus has long road frontages and an existing sign plan adopted in 2013; the proposed sign would help patients and emergency responders identify the surgery center now branded as Wellstar rather than the prior tenant. "The surgery center has now been taken over by Wellstar instead of Piedmont," Danielle said, explaining the branding and wayfinding rationale. Staff recommended approval with a condition that the new sign be a double‑sided brick monument to coordinate with the existing masonry signage; Mark Dry, representing Wellstar, told the commission the applicant had provided a graphic showing the masonry treatment and had no objection to the condition. A commissioner moved to recommend approval with the masonry condition; the motion was seconded and the chair announced the motion carried. The record shows staff and the applicant agreed on the design condition; no speakers opposed the revision. The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action.