The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of a proposed Martinez home development in its meeting, Tuesday evening.
Property owner James Gay and builder Ron Lewis applied to rezone some six acres at 4316 Day Roadl, off Summer Place from R-2 to R-1 Single-family Residential, with the aim of building five detached single-family lots, with a sixth lot designated to be open space.i
The developers sought rezoning in order to build without connecting to the public sewer line, which county ordinances require for properties zoned R-2.
Lewis noted that the plan originally entailed 13 home lots, and cited the cost of connecting the site to the nearest sewer line on Fair Oaks Road in the Arrowhead neighborhood, estimated at some $155,000; versus $7,500 per lot for septic tanks.
“It may not be feasible for me to do this,” said Lewis. “I’ll certainly take another look at it once the dust settles, but someone will develop this property, particularly now that it’s out that it’s available.”
Neighboring resident Thomas Wise spoke regarding the item, urging the commissioners to consider the preference of neighbors between three options. The most preferred was that the commissioners rejected the rezoning request, prohibiting the developers from building.
The second most favored was that the commissioners approve, allowing five—rather than 13—homes to be developed.
“The disadvantage to that option is that this commission would need to disapprove the recommendations of the Planning Commission, the water and sewer department and the environmental department regarding possible environmental and public health concerns,” said Wise.
The least preferred option among the neighbors, he noted, was that 13 homes be developed on the property.
Echoing this sentiment, another nearby resident, Tommy Norris, said he came speaking on behalf of 52 signed petitioners, residents from Day Road, Summer Place, Forrest Dr. and Fair Oaks, in favor of the rezoning request, hoping to prevent a future development with more lots.
“We certainly are against, we are against… 13 homes,” said Norris. “That’s not what our area has ever been, and it would not fit in with what it is and what the residents around there wanting to be.”
After a motion from Donald Skinner, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve the rezoning, with the added condition that the development be limited to five home lots and one lot for green space.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
