The Columbia County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on a residential development and two Evans care homes in its upcoming meeting before Thanksgiving.
William Grier and property owner Nancy Hall submitted to the county a major revision request at 4528 Hereford Farm Road, the site of a personal care home. The parcel is zoned S-1 Special, to allow for a care home with more than seven residents.
In 2001 the county rezoned the property from R-2 Single-family residential, like the surrounding area, to S-1, as the limit for residents in a personal care home in a residential zoning is six. The staff report notes that the applicants preferred to return to the R-2 zoning, but that, like most of its neighbors, the property cannot connect to the sewer system, and therefore are “technically nonconforming.”
As such, the staff suggested that the applicants seek a revision to allow them uses approved under R-2 and to reduce setbacks. On Nov. 2, the Planning Commission recommended approval, under the condition that the primary structure on the property be allowed to be rebuilt there in the event of its destruction.
Dr. Levi Makala, owner of Lily of the Valley Adult Care at 4933 Hereford Farm Road, is seeking to rezone the two-acre site from R-1 Single-family residential to S-1. The applicant aims to expand the facility to allow for up to 12 residents and to include specialized healthcare, therapy, recreation and 24-hour access to medical care.
Per the planning staff’s recommendation, the Planning Commission voted to approve the request at the same Nov. 2 meeting.
Property owner James Gay and builder Ron Lewis have applied to rezone two parcels at 4316 Day Road, off Summer Place, totaling more than six acres, from R-2 to R-1 Single-family residential.
The applicants aim to develop the tracts with five single-family lots and one common greenspace. The R-1 rezoning would be to avoid connecting to the county sewer system, as required under R-2. The narrative document accompanying the rezoning application notes that access from the closest sewer line on Fair Oaks Road, in the Arrowhead subdivision, to the two parcels would cost more than $155,000.
The Planning Commission voted to disapprove the request, following suit from the staff recommendation.
The next Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
