Planning commission rejects developer's request to ease Tillery Park access condition

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Sept. 18 voted to disapprove a developer request to change conditions attached to the 2020 rezoning of Tillery Park that restricts final platting beyond 300 lots until a second full public access is provided. Danielle, planning staff, told the commission the condition required a second connection to Canterbury Farms Parkway or Wrightsboro Road and that county review still considers that connection important to relieve larger traffic network congestion. "This connection would provide additional route options, relieve some of the congestion on the parallel roads," Danielle said, and staff recommended disapproval. Jason Wingter, representing Artillery Park Development and I.V. Development, told the commission permitting delays from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prompted the developer to build on Area 7 across Baker Place Road rather than wait for a stream‑crossing permit. "Things have drastically changed in the economy since 2020, and so have things with the Corps of Engineers permitting process," Wingter said, summarizing two years of additional permitting requirements including cultural resources surveys and ground‑penetrating radar for an on‑site cemetery and an endangered‑plant review. Wingter said the developer had begun preliminary engineering for the connection to Canterbury Farms but argued delaying construction would have stalled progress on lots that do not require a Corps permit. Danielle explained that although the right‑of‑way for Canterbury Farms Parkway is now dedicated to the county, the road itself is not yet complete or dedicated as a public road in the manner required by the 2020 condition. After applicant remarks and questions, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of the change; the motion was seconded but the chair announced the motion resulted in disapproval. The transcript records the chair stating, "Motion is for disapproval." Staff recommended disapproval will be transmitted with the commission record to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, which will take the final action on the rezoning condition. The record includes developer statements that Section 7 under construction contains about 98 lots, a remaining 37 lots in Section 3, and that the developer has sold 109 homes to date; the commission's action preserves the second‑access requirement pending completion of the public road connection and required Corps permits.