The Columbia County Board of Commissioners revisited a rezoning request to put a car wash along Rountree Way on Tuesday evening, in its first meeting of 2024.
The owners of Ray Ray’s Car Wash had requested to rezone a three-acre property at Rountree Way and Riverwatch Parkway from residential to commercial, in order to build a second location, as well as a variance to reduce the required 50-foot buffer from adjacent residential parcels.
The board voted to approve the requests in its Dec. 19 meeting, but Commissioner Don Skinner requested they be reconsidered, as the motion for the vote was incorrectly written.
Robert Russ, who lives on an adjacent property, spoke against the request, citing concerns about noise, increased traffic and county ordinances restricting car washes from operating within 50 feet of a residence.
“If it can affect my property that way, then it can go all throughout Columbia County,” said Russ, who also attended the Dec. 19 meeting and the Planning Commission’s Dec. 7 meeting to oppose the requests. “Why have the ordinances if you’re not going to stick to them?”
Deputy County Manager Matt Schlacter noted that the proposed car wash building would roughly 180 feet from Russ’ property line, according to the concept plans submitted. He also acknowledged that an actual site plan might differ from that design.
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the variance and rezoning, as they did on Dec. 19.
The board also approved a major planned unit development (PUD) revision for Shoppes at Furys Ferry Road, allowing developers to continue construction of the upcoming Furys Ferry Hardware and its greenhouse and outdoor storage area, as well as Dink’d Pickleball, which is to include 10 pickleball courts.
Former Vice Chair Gary Richardson lauded his fellow commissioners, county manager Scott Johnson and county administrators, expressing gratitude for working alongside him during his more than eight years on the Board of Commissioners.
Richardson announced last month that he would be running for the district 125 seat of the state house of representatives.
“You all mean the world to me, and I appreciate what you’re doing for the citizens of Columbia County,” Richardson said. “I could not take the chance for me not to say and let y’all know how much I appreciate you.”
Earlier the evening, the board, after a motion by Richardson, voted to elect Commissioner Connie Melear as its new vice chair.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
