Planning Commission recommends rezoning for boat and RV storage on Washington Road with paving and buffer conditions

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Nov. 20 recommended approval with conditions for a rezoning from C-2 to S-1 on roughly 22 acres at 6605 and 6611 Washington Road to allow enclosed storage for boats and recreational vehicles.

Staff described the concept as up to about 300,000 square feet of enclosed and covered storage with individual building caps of about 25,000 square feet. The proposal would locate the development in a community crossroads character area deemed suitable for storage-type uses; staff recommended conditioning approval on paving of all drive aisles and parking areas and the provision of a 20-foot landscape buffer with structural elements along the Washington Road frontage to address visual and access concerns.

Owner/applicant John D'Afor told the commission the project is straightforward and that his company operates similar boat-storage facilities. Following a brief discussion, an unidentified commissioner moved to recommend approval with the staff conditions; the motion passed with an announced 4-1 vote.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action during the Board's public hearing process. Site-plan level review, where traffic and detailed site improvements are examined, remains a subsequent step prior to construction.