A local developer is looking to buy time for a planned retail development in Martinez.
Last September, Axis Real Estate Partners of Evans got six lots in the Westmont neighborhood rezoned from Single-family Residential (R-2) and Professional (P-1) to Community Commercial (C-C).
The current respective owners of the parcels — 303, 305, 307, 309 and 311 South Belair Road and 102 Colonial Road — were also applicants to that original rezoning request, and a neighboring resident even spoke of favor of the prospective development.
Axis Real Estate’s plan was, and still is, to redevelop the property into a retail complex, comprised of buildings, ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 square feet, with drive-thru capabilities. One of the conditions of the Board of Commissioners’ unanimous approval of the rezoning was that no liquor stores, tattoo parlors, vape or tobacco shops be among the tenants of the proposed commercial space.
Another condition allowed conditional use of the properties as Single-family Residential for no longer than 12 months, to allow the developers to collect rent and help fund the phases of the development. Axis’ request at the time was initially for five years of conditional use.
Axis is now requesting a revision allowing 36 additional months of conditional residential use of the property. In a letter accompanying the request, Axis cites volatile economic conditions as the impetus for further use of the property as residences, noting an “unpredictable tariff environment” and “stock market swings” as having adversely affected investor and consumer confidence.
The plan revision is supplemented by a variance request to allow the repurpose of the house at 307 S. Belair Road for commercial use.
Despite what it refers to as the country’s current “macroeconomic uncertainty,” Axis Real State also says in the letter that it is confident in its overall retail project, and that “it is very common for commercial development projects to take several years to come together.”
The Columbia County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the plan revision and variance requests during its meeting on July 3.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
