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Columbia County commissioners disapprove proposed convenience store with gas pumps after residents’ testimony
Summary
After extensive public comment from residents and local business owners, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted 3–1 on July 21 to disapprove a major PUD revision proposing a convenience store with gas pumps at Tax Map 078 Parcel 178. Speakers cited planning staff and planning commission recommendations to deny, traffic and parking impacts, and economic harms to nearby businesses.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted 3–1 on July 21 to disapprove a major planned-unit-development revision that would have allowed a convenience store with gas pumps on property identified as Tax Map 078, Parcel 178.
Public commenters urged rejection during the meeting’s public comment period. Dr. Troy Acres, who identified himself as a physician and local business owner, asked the board to "honor that process tonight," saying planning staff recommended denial and the planning commission voted 4–1 to deny the proposal. He told commissioners the proposal would remove "71 parking spaces from a lot that fills on an ordinary Tuesday night" and that months of construction would put "every single small business in that center at risk, including 30 jobs at Dinked alone." Dr. Acres said there was no traffic study and described known blind spots on the road near the site.
Lindsey Steinberg, a Columbia County resident and supporter of local pickleball facilities, urged the board to consider whether another gas station on Fury's Ferry Road aligns with the county’s comprehensive plan adopted Feb. 17, 2026. She argued that approving another gas station would not diversify the commercial corridor and cited recent sports tourism activity, saying a June tournament drew "over 240 registered players" and that a weekend event "can generate more economic impact than a gas station in a month." She also raised safety concerns, noting that, in her view, gas stations are correlated with higher rates of robberies and nuisance activity.
Brandy Consoles, a business owner who said she is not a Columbia County resident, described a prior local construction project that she said extended well past promises and left her business losing about "$15,000 in business every month" and facing layoffs; she urged the commissioners not to put Columbia County businesses through similar disruptions.
During the meeting, a commissioner made the motion to disapprove the major PUD revision; Commissioner Malyre seconded it. The board carried the motion by a 3–1 vote.
The disapproval resolves the specific application before the board tonight; the planning staff and planning commission recommendations and the public comments were central to the discussion. The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote and later adjourned the meeting.
