The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will hear several variance and rezoning requests at the meeting on Tuesday.
One of the items is a variance request for Sections 90-144 Placement of buildings and structures & 90-135 Signs for the property at 3530 Evans to Locks Road. According to the background agenda document, Rep. August Murdock of Law Offices of David L. Huguenin, P.C., said the sign the Patels, who are applicants, put up are not just a sign.
“It refers to a religious leader and is an expression of his religious belief. It is protected by the 1st amendment and Religious Freedom Act. The removal of the sign would be disrespectful since it has been blessed by a priest. He stated that Mr. Patel is sorry for putting the sign up without asking for approval first. He is willing to remove the back lighting on the sign. The wall/gate is up to 9ft due to the slope of the land. Mr. Patel is willing to adjust the grading on the property to fix the fence height. It is not uncommon to have walls/gates in this area. Mr. Patel installed the wall to protect his family. The rest of West Lake is gated for security,” the document said.
An attorney for the West Lake POA, Wright McLeod, said Mr. Patel is in violation of the West Lake covenants and is requesting the variance be disapproved.
Staff is recommending disapproval of the variance request, which only mentions the fence, not the sign.
Also on the agenda is the Vision 2035 Comprehensive Plan update agreement with Houseal Lavigne Associates, LLC.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center Complex. To view the full agenda, visit columbiacountyga.gov.
