The Columbia County Planning Commission voted to recommend a major revision for a burgeoning Grovetown subdivision, and a rezoning for a proposed Appling liquor store during its meeting Thursday evening.
South Georgia Custom Homes petitioned for a major planned unit development (PUD) revision for residential lots at 2335, 2339 and 2341 Laurens St., in the Wright’s Farm subdivision.
The staff report on the revision request notes that the narrative for Wright’s Farm called for some of the 50-foot lots to have either rear alleys or slide by driveways, forbidding front loading garages. The final plat included a note indicating which lots were under this restriction.
The report goes on to state that during the review of the building permits for the lots, “It was missed that these lots required slide by drives and permits were issued in error,” and construction had begun on the front load garage lots before anyone caught the mistake. The developer successfully requested a major PUD revision to accommodate them.
In another section of development, which included the subject parcels, Georgia Custom Homes placed a note on the final plat, which was recorded in March of last year, to help reviewers of the plan know which lots had atypical configuration.
Those reviewers, the report states, included county planning staff, the builders and Architectural Review board for Wright’s Farm.
On May 25 of this year, the developer applied for a building permit at the subject Laurens Street properties, which showed residences of more than 3000-square feet with front loading garages. The county granted the permits in early June, and the builders started construction shortly after.
“Therefore, the requirements for these lots were not noted by Columbia County, the Architectural Review Board or the builder during review,” said staff in the report.
In an accompanying letter to the Planning Department, Keith Blaschke stated that four front entry homes directly across the street from the subject parcels had been successfully permitted, constructed and closed, leading to the oversight.
Planning staff recommended approving the revision requests, conceding that South Georgia Homes did not intend to deviate from restrictions or requirements, and that allowing front load garages in a section of the neighborhood that already has them immediately across the street shouldn’t detract from the streetscape.
“However, it should still be noted that there are three different groups… that are responsible for reviewing plans for this development to ensure they are in compliance for the zoning and covenants on the property,” said the staff report, going on the stress that the county issues building permits and that it ought to “be cognizant of that fact when reviewing plans in the future for this development, as well as others with similar requirements.”
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to update the PUD.
Atu Patel had applied to rezone 6697 Washington Road from Community Commercial to totally General Commercial, with a conditional use to sell spirits.
Patel aims to expand the Speedy Mart gas station and convenience store at the location to include a liquor store and bait shop, notes the staff report. Patel had already applied for, and received, a liquor license last year, which then expired due to non-use.
Last May, the county approved an ordinance requiring a conditional use, alongside the alcohol license, to open liquor stores.
The commissioners voted in favor of the request unanimously, save for Commissioner Russell Wilder, who recused himself from the vote.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
