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Columbia County to weigh LDR changes after residents say borrow-pit approval slipped past public notice
Summary
Commissioners opened the meeting with a lengthy discussion of a recent borrow-pit approval that residents say moved forward without clear notice or an effective appeals process.
Commissioners opened the meeting with a lengthy discussion of a recent borrow-pit approval that residents say moved forward without clear public notice or an effective appeals process. County staff and several commissioners acknowledged the current Land Development Regulations (LDRs) allow administrative approval when an application checks all required boxes, leaving limited opportunities for public input unless an appeal unchecks a requirement.
"No one was notified...we had no idea there was an appeals date," said Brian Slanker, a resident who spoke during public comment, describing dozens of neighbors who came to Planning & Zoning to oppose the project but were not told how to pursue an appeal. Another resident told the board that the original notice had been placed on the wrong parcel and that scheduling confusion left opponents unaware when the item returned to the PNZ agenda.
County staff and several commissioners proposed operational fixes and a code change. Staff said larger, more durable signs keyed to acreage tiers could improve visibility and that a QR code linking directly to the planning-and-zoning application would allow easy public review. Commissioners discussed adding language to the LDRs to make certain borrow-pit applications discretionary — so they would come before the Board of County Commissioners rather than be approved administratively — and recommended a workshop with Kimley Horn to map which applications go to PNZ versus the board.
Several commissioners endorsed additional outreach from the county’s new Public Information Officer to post meeting notices and send email alerts to constituents who sign in at hearings. Board members said they will pursue specific LDR changes and return with proposals to clarify the appeals pathway and improve public notification.
The board did not take a formal vote to change the code at this meeting; staff said a workshop and draft ordinance language would be prepared for future action.
