Columbia County commissioners approve Evans Market vendor fees, several land-use requests; elect Allison Couch vice chair

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved the second reading of Resolution 24-48 to update Evans Market vendor fees, approved multiple land-use requests including a new church building and a conditional-use vocational school, authorized three public hearings on House Bill 581 and elected Commissioner Allison Couch as vice chairman.

The actions, taken at the board's first meeting of 2025, were routine votes on several agenda items the commission described as having completed the necessary committee review. Commissioners voted unanimously on the Evans Market fee change and on the planning items; the board also approved minutes with one abstention noted because a commissioner was absent.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 24-48 (Evans Market vendor fees, second reading): approved, 5–0. The resolution updates vendor fees and introduces a season pass option for vendors to select preferred market locations for a full season.

- Major S1 revision, Tax Map 082 Parcel 056 (new church building and additional paid parking): approved, outcome recorded as passed; approval is subject to conditions in the Dec. 19, 2024 Planning Commission report, including a required cross-access easement with Westlake Golf Course before plans will be approved.

- Major PUD revision, Tax Map 073 Parcels 356 (massage/therapy use): approved, outcome recorded as passed.

- Conditional use, Tax Map 079 Parcel 153 (vocational school): approved, outcome recorded as passed; condition limits the use to Suite 12B.

- Reappointments and appointments to county committees, with one correction: Pat Goodwin appointed to the library board (replacing Marty Jackson as originally listed): approved.

- Authorization for three public hearings regarding House Bill 581 (homestead exemption): approved. The board clarified the action authorized only the hearings and is not a decision to opt out of state law.

Meeting details and key motions

Commissioner Carraway moved to approve the second reading of Resolution 24-48 (Evans Market vendor fees); the motion carried 5–0. County staff described the measure as an update to current fees and the addition of a season pass that allows vendors to reserve preferred market locations for the entire season.

On planning items, the board approved a major S1 revision for property identified as Tax Map 082 Parcel 056 to allow construction of a new church building and additional paid parking. The approval is subject to the conditions listed in the Dec. 19, 2024 Planning Commission report; staff noted one explicit condition requires the church to secure a cross‑access easement with Westlake Golf Course prior to plan approval.

The board also approved a major planned-unit-development revision for Tax Map 073 Parcels 356 for a massage/therapy use, and a conditional-use request to allow a vocational school at Tax Map 079 Parcel 153. The vocational school was described by staff as a health-care training program offering EKG, phlebotomy and clinical medical assistant instruction that will operate as a hybrid program with online coursework and periodic hands-on sessions; the conditional-use approval was limited to Suite 12B.

A member of the public who identified himself as Howard gave brief remarks in support of the church project and provided his address for the record; no adjacent homeowners association representatives spoke, and staff said notice requirements had been met.

Board organization and routine business

The board elected Commissioner Allison Couch as vice chairman for 2025 after nominations from the floor and a voice vote. The board approved the consent agenda and accepted the Dec. 17, 2024 meeting minutes; during the minutes vote the record shows one abstention because a commissioner was not present.

The board set its next meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, and adjourned that evening.

Ending

Most actions recorded at the meeting were approvals of items forwarded from planning or committee review; the board flagged the HB 581 agenda item only for public hearings and did not take a policy position during the session.