An Evans church is looking to develop a new building for its congregation on North Belair Road.
William Tolbert III, pastor of Three Nails Gospel Church, currently located at 4569 Cox Road in Evans, alongside landowners John Tisdale and Barry Neal Middleton (of the Tisdale, Middleton and Land law firm), have requested a variance and a conditional use for a one-acre parcel at 201 North Belair Road.
The vacant property sits at the intersection of North Belair Road and Roxbury Drive, adjacent to homes of the Hickory Grove neighborhood to its east. The requests seek to reduce the required setbacks and buffers for a proposed church.
Plans included with the requests show a 7,020-square foot building with a sanctuary fit to seat 200 to 250 people, with 10-foot rear and side setbacks, long with 20-foot buffers.
The narrative states that while most traffic would be on Sunday mornings, some activity would be scheduled throughout the week, much of it community service oriented. This includes free counseling services on Mondays, a life coaching program on Thursdays and a children’s program Friday nights.
On Wednesdays, the narrative document stated, the church operates a food pantry, partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank. Some 15 volunteers work each week to collect food from Golden Harvest, and distribute it to 85 client families and upwards 250 people each week.
In a letter to the Columbia County Planning Department also included with the requests, Tisdale states that upon the county’s approval, and the sale of the property to Tolbert, the congregation would be allowed to use the parking spaces of neighboring 205 and 207 North Belair Road for overflow parking. The 207 North Belair address is the location of the Tisdale, Middleton and Land offices, and Tisdale notes in the letter that he is an “agent of the owner of 205” North Belair.
The Columbia County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the requests in its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
