A new development may be underway off Baker Place Road in Grovetown, amid contention among residents.
The Columbia County Planning Commission approved a major planned unit development revision for approximately 11 acres consisting of five parcels along Bakers Place Road, Warriors Way and William Few Parkway during its meeting Nov. 18.
KLA Properties III, LLC, a developer based in Tampa, Fla., applied for the PUD revision on Oct. 22 for the purpose of a proposed planned unit development called Warrior’s Walk.
This proposed PUD is intended to include a mixture of commercial, professional and residential uses. The retail units, which could include restaurants, pharmacies, gyms or banks, would be along the William Few Parkway frontage. Professional units, such as medical or attorney offices, would be along the Baker Place Road frontage. The residential units, planned along the Warriors Way, would be townhomes, not to exceed 44 lots.
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The area was rezoned as a PUD in 2014 in order to remove it from Hidden Creek. Two major revisions have been approved since then, one in 2015 to revise traffic conditions, and again in 2019 approved for a dentist’s office to address zoning conditions related to sign permits.
The Planning Commission approved the revision with conditions, some of which are engineering guidelines such as a single right-in, right-out driveway on Baker Place Road, right and left turn lanes for full access on William Few Parkway.
Several residents of surrounding subdivisions, such as Hidden Creek, Kelarie and Chastain’s Place, emailed the Planning Department regarding the proposed Warrior’s Walk development. Most were opposed and cited concerns such as increased traffic and the reduction of greenspace with more commercial areas.
“We are all against it,” said Hidden Creek resident Heather Tieskotter in a letter to planning. “Not only are our schools overcrowded, traffic is already awful at peak times of the day. If you add more homes and businesses in right there, it will cause significant delays to students, teachers, and working parents as well as more accidents. Please do not approve this.”
The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to address the revision request during its meeting on Dec. 7.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
