Planning Commission approves plats, temporary uses for Augusta event, preschool and other items; postpones Washington Road rezoning

The Columbia County Planning Commission on March 18, 2025 handled a package of development permits and zoning requests, approving two plats, five temporary-use authorizations for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur golf tournament, several major zoning revisions and a variance, and postponing one rezoning previously deferred by the applicant.

Why it matters: Together, these actions clear entitlement and site-permitting steps for multiple residential subdivisions, a church-run preschool, and short-term event infrastructure. Several approvals impose standard conditions (setbacks, open space, sidewalks) and will move to final plat recording or to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners where required.

Votes and key outcomes (each item was moved, seconded and recorded as “motion carries” in the meeting minutes unless noted):

- Preliminary plat — Highland Lakes West, Section 2: Approved. Staff recommended approval for a preliminary plat showing 92 single-family lots with a minimum lot size of 10,125 square feet and an average lot size of 11,527 square feet; sidewalks, street trees and 5.74 acres of open space are included.

- Final plat — Tillery Park South (also referred to as Artillery Park South in the hearing): Approved. Final plat shows 67 single-family lots in a planned residential development with minimum lot size 7,150 square feet, average 8,874 square feet, 50-foot perimeter buffer and 12 acres of open space; construction is not complete.

- Temporary Use Authorizations (five parcels) — Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament: Approved. Planning staff presented five separate TUA applications covering: temporary concessions, tents and bathroom trailers on the Championship Retreat golf course parcel; office trailers and restroom trailer near the tournament entrance; maintenance-area trailers, radio repeater and golf-cart charging in the maintenance parcel; employee off-site parking and shuttle staging at a parcel that hosts Grace Baptist Church (including a pickup/drop-off tent, restroom trailer and office trailer); and a security checkpoint/tent on Champions Parkway. Staff recommended approval for all five temporary structures tied to tournament operations.

- Major S-1 revision — 562 Roundtree Way (InFocus Church): Approved. The request adds a preschool use and playground to an 11.18-acre church property zoned S-1; staff noted existing classrooms and parking can serve the proposed weekday preschool hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Staff recommended approval.

- Major revision — 2571 Wingfield Parkway: Approved. The applicant requested a major revision to convert a planned-unit-development parcel previously envisioned for a funeral home into three single-family lots to be developed to R1 standards. Staff recommended approval with conditions limiting setbacks to R1 and coordinating access to minimize driveway points.

- Rezoning postponed — RZ250201 (4204 Washington Road): Postponed to the May 15 Planning Commission meeting at the applicants’ request. The site, currently zoned R2, was proposed for 123 attached and detached units; staff said technical issues (access and fire-code compliance) remain under review.

- Variance — 4323 Evanston Locks Road (VA file): Approved. Applicant requested reduction of side and rear building setbacks and removal of the Evans Town Center overlay maximum front setback for property currently in the M2 zone; staff recommended approval, noting the requested 20-foot buffer matches adjacent conditions.

Several items were routine approvals of minutes and the meeting agenda; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript for the individual motions. Where staff recommended approval, commissioners moved and seconded motions and the chair called votes with results recorded as “motion carries.”

What’s next: Items that require Board of Commissioners action or final plat recordation will move forward to those review steps; several approvals carry standard plat or construction conditions that must be met before building permits or final recording.

Full list of formal actions (summary): all items above were approved as noted except RZ250201, which the applicant postponed to May 15.