Columbia County commissioners approve multiple rezoning, variance and signage requests; approve relocation payments for road widening

Columbia County commissioners on July 1 approved several land-use and infrastructure items, including rezoning and variance requests for private properties, a request to allow a church site to operate a food pantry and a master signage plan exception for a local hospital, and authorized two relocation payments tied to the Herford Farm Road widening project.

The approvals came on voice votes after staff presentations and limited public comment. Commissioner Allen moved the motions on the zoning and variance items and each motion “carrie[d]” after being seconded, according to the meeting record.

The most detailed approvals were a rezoning from C-2 to C-3 for Tax Map 078C Parcels 160A and 161 to allow a contractor’s office with outside storage, and an accompanying variance to reduce a required 30-foot rear building setback to 10 feet and reduce buffer requirements for the outdoor storage area. Staff said the use reflected how the site was originally built and that the new owner must bring the property into current code compliance. Conditions in the 06/19/2025 planning commission report were attached to both the rezoning and the variance approvals.

A separate major S-1 site revision for Tax Map 001 Parcel 002 was approved to allow reduced building setbacks adjacent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property, including a request to reduce the buffer from 20 feet to 0 feet. Staff noted that any building placed closer than 5 feet to the property line would be subject to fire-rating requirements under the International Building Code and said the county will require a survey of the foundation prior to issuing sign-off on vertical construction to ensure no encroachment onto Corps property.

The board approved a rezoning from R-3 to S-1 for Tax Map 077B Parcel 118 to allow a church-run food pantry, clothing ministry and small-group meeting space per a concept plan dated May 20, 2025. Staff said the pantry would operate three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), with pantry operations ending by 6 p.m. and small-group meetings possibly running until about 8 p.m. The site plan under review shows nine parking spaces; staff said trip generation did not warrant additional traffic lanes. Planning staff also noted fencing and landscaping requirements will be reviewed during site-plan review. One nearby resident, Valerie Lam of 4747 Bass Drive, spoke in opposition, citing worries about traffic, safety for children and views into backyards.

Commissioners also approved a major S-1 revision to increase sign allowances for a hospital site (Tax Map 068 Parcel 958F). Staff presented a signage master plan submitted May 23, 2025, and said the county sign code was not drafted to cover large, public-destination sites such as hospitals. Staff noted the planned primary entrance sign sits in a median currently owned by Columbia County and that the county will bring a separate action to consider abandoning and selling the small county-owned parcel to the hospital; if that parcel is not abandoned and sold, the applicant would have to relocate the sign.

On an infrastructure-related item, Vice Chairman Couch moved and the board approved $15,315 in tenant rent supplement and moving expense for Jason Dees and $2,498.49 in relocation assistance for David Biggs tied to Parcel072A057 (Herford Farm Road widening). Staff said those payments are required under federal law when using House Bill 170 funds and that Parcel 159 had been previously purchased by the board.

Decisions were routinely conditioned on compliance with the June 19, 2025 planning commission report and standard plan-review steps; staff repeatedly noted follow-up requirements such as site-plan approval, landscaping and surveys. Several motions were described and approved on the record; the meeting transcript shows voice votes with commissioners raising hands to indicate approval.

What the board approved

- Allowing an applicant to withdraw a pending request for a change of conditions “without prejudice,” with the applicant expected to submit a revised rezoning application for a portion of the land in the near future (motion approved). (Referenced by Commissioner Allen.) - Rezoning Tax Map 078C Parcels 160A & 161 from C-2 to C-3 to permit contractor office and outside storage; variance approved to reduce rear setback to 10 feet and reduce buffer requirements, subject to conditions in the 06/19/2025 planning commission report. (Motion approved.) - Major S-1 site revision for Tax Map 001 Parcel 002 to reduce the setback adjacent to Army Corps property from 20 feet to 0 feet, subject to conditions including a foundation survey before vertical construction; staff noted buildings closer than 5 feet require fire-rating per building code. (Motion approved.) - Rezoning Tax Map 077B Parcel 118 from R-3 to S-1 for use as a food pantry, clothing ministry and small-group meeting place (operating three days per week; pantry hours not past 6 p.m.; meetings until around 8 p.m.); staff said nine parking spaces are shown on the plan. The record contains public opposition from an adjacent resident. (Motion approved.) - Major S-1 revision to increase sign allowances for Tax Map 068 Parcel 958F (hospital); staff noted a county-owned median parcel will need abandonment and sale to host the proposed primary entrance sign, or the sign would need relocation. (Motion approved.) - Relocation payments for Herford Farm Road widening: $15,315 to Jason Dees (tenant rent supplement/moving expense) and $2,498.49 to David Biggs (relocation assistance) under the board’s federal/HB-170 relocation obligations. (Motion approved.)

Sources and next steps

Staff repeatedly referenced the June 19, 2025 planning commission report and the applicants’ submitted concept plans and narratives; several approvals require follow-on site-plan review, landscaping and surveys before building permits or vertical construction. The hospital sign exception will likely require a separate county action to abandon and sell the small median parcel that currently sits on county-owned land.