Columbia County Planning Commission recommends multiple preliminary plats, approves signage variances and postpones one rezoning

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Feb. 20 recommended approval of several preliminary plats, approved signage- and setback-related variances, accepted withdrawals of several applications and postponed one major rezoning to March 20.

Staff presented each item and commissioners acted on motions by voice vote. Danielle, a county planning staff presenter, described the Abundance Point preliminary plat as “a preliminary plat for Abundance Point, located on Abundance Way ... currently zoned R4 Recreational Residential” and said the proposal would create nine single-family lots with a minimum lot size of 40,006 square feet and an average lot size of 68,978 square feet; staff recommended approval. The commission voted to approve the preliminary plat.

The commission also approved preliminary plats for Phase 4 of the Greenpoint subdivision (62 single-family lots, minimum lot size 6,000 square feet, average 8,119 square feet) and Area 7 of Tillery Park (98 single-family lots, average lot size 7,249 square feet), both in planned residential development (PRD) zoning. Staff noted PRD conditions requiring a second full access before final platting past 300 total lots for Greenpoint and Tillery Park; commissioners granted preliminary plat approval while that final-access condition remains in place.

On a commercial site review, staff presented an architectural review for a proposed Mavis Tire and Brake at 5151 Bluegrass Veil and recommended approval; commissioners approved the design review. A temporary use authorization for a travel trailer at 1242 Lakeview Drive in RA (residential agricultural) zoning — presented as temporary housing while the house is remodeled — was approved after the owner’s representative spoke to the commission.

Several sign-related requests were withdrawn and the commission formally accepted those withdrawals. Applicants for additional canopy signage at two Parker’s gas station locations (5170 Columbia Road and 4099 Jimmy Dyas Parkway) withdrew their variance requests seeking 36-square-foot canopy signs where county code allows 12 square feet; staff recommended accepting the withdrawals and the commission did so. Jackson, representing Anchor Signs, told the commission, “Withdraw the application.”

A separate variance request to relocate an existing billboard at 208 Bobby Jones Expressway drew more debate. Staff recommended disapproval because the proposed location would not meet the county’s 500-foot minimum separation between billboards and a code-compliant location exists on the same property; the applicant’s engineer advised that the sign owner and tenant preferred the requested placement. Despite staff’s recommendation, the commission voted to recommend approval of the variance to permit a billboard within 500 feet of another existing billboard.

On a development-layout item, Ray America LLC asked to remove a maximum building-setback requirement along Rountree Way for property at 531 Rountree Way (a site under construction for a Ray Ray’s Car Wash). Staff noted the property sits in the Evans Town Center Overlay District and historically had multiple variance requests; staff recommended limiting the removal to Rountree Way while retaining the maximum setback on Riverwatch. The commission approved the request with the staff-recommended condition (remove the maximum setback along Rountree Way only).

A rezoning request for 4204 Washington Road — to rezone from R2 to PRD to allow 123 attached and detached rental cottages — remained unresolved on engineering and fire access concerns. Staff recommended postponement to allow the applicant to address access, floodplain and fire-department issues; the applicant asked to return on March 20 and the commission voted to postpone the rezoning to the March 20 Planning Commission meeting.

Other land-use applications, including a rezoning from R2 to R1 off Wrightsboro Road and a concept plan and associated variance for Hamilton Grove, were withdrawn by applicants and the commission accepted those withdrawals without prejudice.

The meeting began with routine procedural approvals (minutes from Feb. 6 and the night’s agenda) and ended with adjournment after the public hearing items and administrative business.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (02/06/2025): Motion carried (voice vote). - Approve agenda: Motion carried (voice vote). - Abundance Point preliminary plat (Abundance Way, Camper Club Road): Motion to approve preliminary plat — approved. (Staff: Danielle) - Greenpoint Subdivision Phase 4 preliminary plat (off Apling/Harlem Road): Motion to approve preliminary plat — approved. - Tillery Park / Hillard Park Area 7 preliminary plat (off Baker Place Road): Motion to approve preliminary plat — approved. - Architectural review — Mavis Tire and Brake at 5151 Bluegrass Veil (C2): Motion to approve — approved. - Natural-design review at Navistar Bluegrass Foot Trail: Motion to approve — approved. - Temporary Use Authorization (1242 Lakeview Drive, RA) — travel trailer during remodel: Motion to approve TUA — approved. - VA25-21, variance to section 91-35 (canopy sign) at 5170 Columbia Road: Applicant withdrew; motion to accept withdrawal without prejudice — approved. - Variance to section 91-35 (canopy sign) at 4099 Jimmy Dyas Parkway: Applicant withdrew; motion to accept withdrawal — approved. - Variance (remove maximum front setback) at 531 Rountree Way (Ray Ray’s Car Wash site): Motion to approve with condition (remove maximum setback along Rountree Way only) — approved. - VA20524, variance to section 91-35 (billboard relocation) at 208 Bobby Jones Expressway: Motion to recommend approval to Board of Commissioners — approved (commission recommended approval despite staff disapproval). - Rezoning R2 → PRD at 4204 Washington Road (proposed 123 cottages): Motion to postpone to March 20 — approved (postponed). - Rezoning R2 → R1 off Wrightsboro/Hamilton Road (soil/septic issues): Applicant withdrew; motion to accept withdrawal without prejudice — approved. - Concept plan and variance for Hamilton Grove (Wrightsboro Road): Applicant withdrew; motion to accept withdrawal without prejudice — approved.

Why it matters The commission’s approvals move multiple residential preliminary plats forward to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action or to subsequent construction stages; several approvals remain conditional on infrastructure (second access) requirements or future final plats. The commission’s approval of a billboard variance over staff objection will be forwarded as a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners and raises the central land-use question in county code about bringing nonconforming signs into compliance.

What remained unresolved The Washington Road rezoning was postponed for additional engineering, floodplain and fire-access review; applicants for multiple projects withdrew to address technical issues (soil/septic permitting and site design). The record shows conditions or additional approvals will still be needed before final plats or building permits are issued.