Columbia County commissioners deny several rezoning requests, approve liquor-store conditional use

Columbia County commissioners on Aug. 5 denied requests to change residential zoning and variances for several parcels but approved two conditional uses: one to permit massage at a professional center parcel and one to permit on‑premises retail package sales of distilled spirits at a portion of Tax Map 068, Parcel 003.

The board voted to deny a request for a change of conditions for Tax Map 073A, Parcels 154–159 (temporary residential use authorization) and denied a variance to Section 90‑98 for Tax Map 073A Parcel 156 to reduce a front building setback. The board also denied a rezoning request from R‑1 for Tax Map 067 Parcel 017G (a personal care / group-home matter). Those denials were made by motion and voted on during the meeting; commissioners moved and seconded the denials and the motions carried as recorded.

Separately, the board approved a conditional‑use permit allowing retail package sales of distilled spirits (off‑premises) at a portion of Tax Map 068, Portion of Parcel 003 after public comment both for and against the proposal. Vice Chair Couch—who later disclosed a personal relationship with the applicant—moved to approve the conditional use; the motion was seconded and carried. Supporters, including attorney Matthew Padgett representing Robin Sonby LLC and residents who spoke in favor, said the proposed store would be a professionally run, local business; opponents including former commissioner Don Skinner urged the board to reject the store because of nearby residences and schools.

The commission also approved a conditional use to allow massage in Lot 15 of the Columbia Professional Center (tax map 079, Parcel 156, Building 15). County planning staff told the board the operator is a single, state‑licensed practitioner with stated hours Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and by appointment.

On the personal care home request, Dr. Lehi McCullough sought rezoning from R‑1 to S‑1 to allow expansion from a 6‑person personal‑care license to a facility that could accommodate a seventh resident and permit different billing; staff explained that an S‑1 zoning would trigger additional building code and fire‑sprinkler requirements and could involve the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The board voted to deny the rezoning.

The board distinguished discussion and public comment from formal action throughout: several speakers addressed individual items during the public‑comment portion or at their agenda hearings; the commission recorded motions, seconds and roll‑call outcomes on the rezoning and conditional‑use items.

The decisions leave in place existing residential protections for the parcels denied and add a conditional‑use approval for the liquor operation at the location identified in the motion. The county planner noted that conditional uses are tied to the parcel; for example, the approved massage use is conditioned to Lot 15, not to a specific operator.

Community members raised concerns about traffic, tree lines, proximity to schools, and neighborhood character during the liquor‑store hearing; supporters cited local small‑business investment and compliance with setback/distance requirements noted by planning staff. Commissioners did not announce additional conditions beyond what was reflected in the motions and the planning record at the meeting.

What happened next: the county will reflect the approvals and denials in official zoning records and the conditional‑use approvals will be subject to permitting and state licensing requirements where applicable.