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Planning commission approves licenses and variances, and recommends approval with conditions for restaurant at Columbia Road site
Summary
On July 2 the commission approved two massage-operator licenses and a setback variance (VA26-0701) and recommended approval with conditions of a change-of-conditions (RZ260702) to allow a 3,000-square-foot restaurant at a Columbia Road property; the Board of Commissioners will review the rezoning.
The Columbia County Planning Commission on July 2 approved two massage-operator licenses, recommended approval of a setback variance and recommended approval with conditions for a change of conditions to allow a restaurant at a Columbia Road property.
Commissioners approved a massage operator license for Catherine Brooks Walker, d/b/a Katie Walker Massage at 1105 Fury's Ferry Lane, and a second license for Laura Beth Herron, d/b/a Tucked Away Massage at 448 Columbia Road, Suite 106, after staff said both applications met ordinance requirements and staff recommended approval.
Planner Dylan (speaker 7) presented a variance request (VA26-0701) to reduce the front setback for a proposed detached garage at 618 Millstone Drive in the Jones Mill subdivision. Dylan noted utility constraints and the corner-lot geometry that leave limited buildable area and reported that the applicant provided a letter of support from the HOA. Commissioner (speaker 5) moved to recommend approval of VA26-0701 (reduce front setback to 40 feet from the centerline) and the motion carried.
Staff also presented a change-of-conditions request (RZ260702) to allow a 3,000-square-foot restaurant on a Columbia Road property previously restricted to a convenience store. Staff (speaker 8) said the area has experienced commercial growth since the original 2016 condition, a traffic signal has been added at South Lobelia Road providing safer access, and the applicant proposed additional parking and curb-and-gutter work. Project engineer Bill Quarter (speaker 27) told commissioners that the building pad is already graded and that the applicant is not proposing a drive-through window. Commissioner (speaker 21) moved to recommend approval with conditions and the motion carried.
The commission forwarded the restaurant change-of-conditions recommendation and will send the PUD hearing record to the Board of Commissioners, which is scheduled to consider matters forwarded from the Planning Commission on July 21, 2026.
