Planning commission recommends rezoning for Ridge Road boat/RV storage despite strong neighbor opposition

The Columbia County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning to allow a covered boat and RV storage facility on a 10.62-acre parcel off Ridge Road, a decision that followed extensive public opposition and a staff recommendation to deny the request.

Staff told the commission the parcel sits on the edge of the Lake Neighborhood future land-use designation and that, while S1 uses are listed as possible, the county’s development pattern typically places storage facilities closer to the lake. Because of that context, staff recommended disapproval.

Jacob Glover, representing Meister and Marbin LLC (the applicant), said the project team had conducted community outreach, prepared a site plan with 70,000 square feet of covered storage plus enclosed units, and proposed screening, downcast lighting and gated access. “Lightings will be positioned downward. Lehi lighting, 0 candle foot lighting, no lighting pollution,” Glover said as he described proposed lighting and security measures.

Nearby residents strongly opposed the project at the public hearing. John Bridal, who lives adjacent to the parcel, said the entry and exit geometry at Ridge Road and Washington Road created safety risks for RVs and boat trailers. “The neighborhood perspective is, as Mr. Holloway has said, primarily the safety concern,” Bridal told the commission. Julie Harrison, a resident two and a half miles down Ridge Road, presented a petition she said had more than 200 signatures and echoed safety and traffic concerns on the narrow, winding Ridge Road.

Applicant representatives and the development team said the proposed use would generate fewer than 100 vehicle trips per day and that security, landscaping and lighting plans would mitigate neighborhood impacts. Planning staff noted the site plan was well developed from a site-design perspective but reiterated that the future land-use pattern and peripheral location weighed against approval.

After public comment and discussion, the commission voted to recommend approval of RZ25-503, rezoning the parcel to S1 for the storage facility. The transcript shows the commission approved the motion by voice/hand vote; the staff recommendation of disapproval and neighborhood opposition were recorded in the hearing.