Planning commission recommends against liquor store at South Bel Air and Columbia Road after sizable public opposition

The Columbia County Planning and Zoning Commission on July 17 recommended that the Board of Commissioners deny a conditional‑use request to permit retail package sales of distilled spirits at 102 South Bel Air Road.

The action followed a public hearing in which county planning staff outlined the site, ordinance distance requirements and traffic considerations. Will, planning staff, said the proposed liquor store met the ordinance spacing requirements and that “staff recommends approval with condition of the request,” including a requirement for county sewer for the liquor store.

Why it matters: Commissioners forward zoning and conditional‑use recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for final action on Aug. 5, 2025. The issue drew strong neighborhood reaction because the site abuts established residential areas and multiple speakers warned about safety, traffic and perceived impacts on property values.

What happened: The applicant’s representative, Ravi Sandeep, told the commission the ownership group owned the parcel and chose the location because it “checks all boxes for us” and meets county spacing rules. The applicant, identified in the hearing as Mr. Patel, said he operates an existing Richmond County liquor store and wants to return to operate in Columbia County.

Residents who oppose the conditional use described concerns about increased traffic at the nearby signalized intersection, visibility of homes and proximity to children’s bus stops and recreational areas. Cynthia Trapp, who identified herself as a county school employee and a Brookwood Lane resident, said the intersection is already congested and that the neighborhood did not “need any more” liquor stores. David Tenizen, president of the Brookwood Community HOA, said school buses stop less than 50 yards from the proposed driveway and told commissioners the HOA opposed the liquor store.

Several neighbors also described criminal incidents in the area and said the change from trees and buffer to a commercial frontage would harm privacy and neighborhood character. Rosemary Bridal (as recorded in the transcript) and other residents reiterated traffic and safety concerns. A supporter, Haley Edsel, who lives less than 1.5 miles away, said she had patronized the applicant’s Richmond County business and said a new, well‑run store could broaden the tax base and create jobs.

Commission action: After closing public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend disapproval of RZ250704 (the conditional use for retail package sale of distilled spirits for off‑premise consumption at 102 South Bel Air Road). The motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 4‑0 in favor of recommending disapproval. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action.

Legal and procedural notes: Staff reviewed the proposal against county ordinance distance requirements for package liquor stores and presented a map of nearby package stores, churches, parks and treatment facilities. Will summarized those distances and concluded the proposal met the ordinance’s minimum separations (for example, the nearest package store noted in staff materials is about 1.72 miles away). The transcript records that the site has older C‑2 zoning in portions dating to 1977 and 1998, and that a previous request to expand C‑2 zoning for the parcel had been turned down by the Board of Commissioners.

Next steps: The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation opposing the conditional use will be considered by the Board of Commissioners at its Aug. 5, 2025 meeting. Commissioners, staff and members of the public may present additional testimony at that hearing.

Speakers quoted or identified in this article are drawn from the July 17 transcript and are identified by name and role as recorded at the hearing.