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Planning Commission recommends disapproval of variance for Evans Locks Road wall and sign
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended denying a variance that would allow taller front/side walls and an oversized sign at an Evans Locks Road residence after staff argued the features conflict with R2 standards and neighbors and the HOA raised covenant and aesthetic objections. The applicant cited religious expression and neighborhood examples.
The Columbia County Planning Commission recommended denial of a variance request regarding a fence and a sign at a property on Evans Locks Road after a public hearing and staff presentation.
Planning staff presented the variance request (recorded in the packet as addressing 3530 Evans Locks Road) to allow a wall that exceeds the R2 front-yard height limit and an oversized sign. Staff said R2 front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet and that the wall at the site reaches roughly 8–9½ feet at its highest points, while the sign exceeds the six-square-foot sign allowance for the zoning district. Staff recommended disapproval.
Attorney August Murdoch, speaking for the applicant Mister Patel, said the sign is an expression of the family’s religious belief—an homage to a Hindu leader associated with the BAPS tradition—and argued removing it would raise religious and spiritual concerns. Murdoch said the family would remove illumination from the sign if required and described lot-grade differences that make some columns appear taller; he also submitted photographs and examples of similar walls and columns in nearby Westlake to argue the feature is not atypical for the neighborhood.
Neighbors and the Westlake Property Owners Association urged denial. A Westlake representative said the sign and wall violate neighborhood covenants and the association is pursuing resolution. Neighbor Bob Norlin said the applicant knew the restrictions when he bought in the subdivision and disputed comparisons to wrought-iron gates on nearby properties, emphasizing the wall’s unfinished surface. Another neighbor, AJ Causey, questioned religious-preference arguments, saying equal treatment would allow other religious messages.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend disapproval of VA 20496 (variance to permit a taller wall within building setbacks and signage at the Evans Locks Road property); the motion was seconded and carried.
Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action on 2024-11-05, where the Board may accept, modify, or reverse the commission’s recommendation.
Quotes
“this sign is an homage to a religious leader within the BAPS sect of the Hindu religion…this is an expression of his religious belief,” said Attorney August Murdoch, speaking for the applicant.
“We are going through the process. We hope to have resolution with him at some point, but at this time we ask that the variance be denied,” said Wright McLeod of the Westlake Property Owners Association.
Ending
The commission’s recommendation to disapprove will be transmitted to the Board of Commissioners for final consideration on 11/05/2024.
