Columbia County approves multiple land-use requests; rezoning for private elementary school approved with traffic condition
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Summary
The board approved several planning and zoning items including a rezoning for Augusta Christian's proposed elementary school subject to a traffic-control plan, a conditional-use permit for a daycare, major PUD revisions and a buffer variance.
Columbia County commissioners approved a slate of planning and zoning actions May 6, including a rezoning to allow Augusta Christian School to build a new elementary campus, a conditional-use permit for a daycare, multiple PUD revisions and a request to reduce a required buffer.
The board voted to rezone property at Tax Map 082B, Parcel 006 to S-1 to permit a proposed private elementary school for Augusta Christian across Baston Road from the school—s existing campus. Planning staff told commissioners the applicant plans a two-story structure estimated at roughly 42,000 to 60,000 square feet and highlighted traffic as the primary concern. The board approved the rezoning subject to the conditions in the April 17 Planning Commission report and added a requirement that the applicant provide a traffic-control plan to prevent school-related traffic from queuing on Baston Road and a pedestrian crossing plan; the county engineer must approve the traffic-control plan and it must be implemented before the new school opens.
County commissioners also approved a conditional-use permit for a daycare at Tax Map 078B, Parcel 047; staff noted the applicant said the facility could serve up to 200 children, and the board approved the conditional use with conditions addressing site access and traffic. The vote on the daycare permit was recorded as 4-1.
Other land-use approvals included a major PUD revision to allow a bank at a commercial corner at Ronald Reagan Parkway and Evans Town Center Boulevard and a PUD revision granting driveway access on Marsh Point Road for a property where rear access was not feasible. The board also approved a variance reducing a required buffer from 50 to 30 feet for a mass-grading project; staff explained the grading would direct stormwater to an on-site pond and noted adjacent golf-course buffers would result in 60 feet of separation between new homes and the golf course. The buffer variance vote carried 4-1.
Planning staff said several approvals include minor site-plan adjustments during permitting to meet fire-code or engineering requirements. Where board members expressed questions, staff said final design and any necessary additional conditions would be handled through the county engineer and permitting process.
Motions carried by voice votes except as noted.
