The Columbia County Planning Commission has tabled the matter of a new bed and breakfast off Millikin Road in Evans.
Adam Kotter, the owner of Gracewood Farms, plans to build a new structure on a six-acre parcel at his 14-acre tract adjacent to his Timber Creek subdivision development. The building is to hold seven bedrooms, six of which would be available for rent.
The parcel is zoned R-1 Single-family Residential, and Kotter is seeking a conditional use at its address, 635 River Pines Drive, to open the bed and breakfast.
“We plan on putting in a federal conservation easement in the next month or two,” said Kotter about his intentions for the remainder of the tract after building the bed and breakfast, preserving the greenspace while balancing his investment on the property. “All of this land… should soon be under conservation so no one will ever be able to build their again.”
George Sleister and Travis Gearig, who both own properties near the subject parcel, opposed the conditional use request. Sleister noted traffic issues, with subdivisions along Mullikin Road and routes to Riverside elementary and middle schools nearby (on Hardy McManus Road and Furys Ferry Road, respectively, both of which connect to Mullikin).
“It’s already been approved… for his development with 50-plus houses on Mullikin Road,” said Sleister to the commissioners, referring to the Timber Creek neighborhood, the plans for which were approved by the Planning Commission last summer. “We didn’t want that, but we accepted that. We don’t want a commercial ‘mini-motel’ next door… all of my neighbors don’t want that.”
When Commissioner James Van Meter asked about how food for the bed and breakfast would be delivered, Kotter responded that he would be personally bringing items for its operation, emphasizing that even at capacity it would serve 12 occupants, with about six cars parked at the location.
“Our intention is not to have children there; we’re not having events or parties. This is your romantic getaway, this is your honeymoon, this is your wedding anniversary spot,” said Kotter. “This for me is not the major moneymaker to cover how we survive, this is, ‘hey, what do I do with that piece of land that I’m trying to protect?’”
Van Meter put forth motion to postpone the item to the next meeting, saying he would like to visit the property again himself to reexamine the lay of the land. Commissioner Russell Wilder seconded the motion, and the commissioners voted unanimously to postpone.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
