The Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved a variance for a Parker’s Kitchen at the corner of Columbia and Lewiston roads to be open 24 hours.
Commissioners originally denied the request at the July 18 meeting, but Board Chair Doug Duncan brought it back before commissioners for reconsideration for the variance. His reason was because he voted incorrectly at the July 18 meeting.
“Last (meeting) we had three or four of these, and I acknowledge I got confused on one of them and voted the wrong way,” Duncan said. “So, I’m rectifying that situation.”
The board voted 3-2 with Commissioners Connie Melear and Alison Couch voting against the reconsideration. After voting on the reconsideration, Commissioner Don Skinner made a motion to approve the variance to allow for the Parker’s Kitchen to be open 24 hours.
“This is a request to allow a convenience store to operate 24 hours a day,” said Deputy County Manager Matt Schlachter. “Currently they are limited to work from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The variance allows for 24-hour operation for a Parker’s at Columbia Road and Lewiston Road.
Melear asked Duncan if there was any new information that caused him to want to reconsider the variance.
“I voted incorrectly,” Duncan said. “I’m rectifying that situation.”
Commissioner Gary Richardson mentioned that two of the other businesses at that intersection are commercial (the Food Lion and Lewiston Express) and the other corner is a church. He added there’s no residential zoning at that intersection.
Couch pointed out those businesses are not currently open 24 hours.
“On that corner or at that intersection there are three other commercial type, there’s an S-1, a church, and then there’s two other commercial businesses there,” Couch said. “However, they do not operate 24-hour services, and so I just felt like it really didn’t fit at that intersection.”
Commissioners ultimately voted 3-2 to allow for the variance for the Parker’s Kitchen to be open 24 hours. Just like with the reconsideration vote, Commissioners Melear and Couch voted against the variance.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
