Two rezoning requests encountered controversy at the Columbia County Planning Commission’s regular meeting Thursday evening, one of which was withdrawn in order to be reconsidered, the other approved by the board.
Donald C. Lawrence of D.C. Lawrence Commercial Real Estate, along with property-owner Alexandria Augusta Holdings, petitioned the county for a major revision of the planned unit development in which 3801 Park Lane is located, to build a two-story, 5,400-square foot office building.
The parcel is within the Forest Park PUD and the Furys Ferry Corridor Protection Overlay District. Five neighboring residents attended the meeting to oppose revision, not the first that Lawrence has submitted to the county for the property, citing concerns about traffic and suitability.
“There’s so many issues with the revision plan that frighten me for myself in my neighborhood,” said nearby resident Danielle Farr, who cited several issues including that the development would have one entrance and exit.
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“It will have to go through the neighborhood,” she said. “We’re already having street problems. It’s all torn up. It’s going to be like a parade. And with the traffic coming through going into and coming out of Lakeside [High School], that’s going to be an issue.”
Peter Brown, another resident, echoed Farr’s concerns about traffic congestion, as well as the prospect of some five businesses tenanted in the building drawing traffic through the neighborhood, limiting privacy.
“This is a neighborhood,” said Brown. “You cannot say it’s something else just because there’s a possibility of someone lining their pockets. We’re affecting people’s lives, we’re affecting families.”
After a motion by Commissioner Russell Wilder, per the recommendation of the planning staff, the Planning Commission voted 4 – 1 to recommend approval of the major revision. Commissioner Gene Futch was the only one opposed.
Billy Williams of Quality Trailers of Harlem requested to rezone 20 acres of his property at 3894 Gordon Highway from R-A, or Residential Agricultural, to M-1, or Light Industrial. Williams aims to use the land for his growing business, which sells trailer parts and equipment, and build 18,000 square feet of warehouse space.
Staff recommended approving the request with conditions, but District 4 Planning Commissioner Al Dempsey presented to Williams another option. Citing the concerns of neighbors on the property, Dempsey suggested that a of requesting a rezoning to Special District rather than Light Industrial, to assuage fears that Williams may sell the property in the future to a party who might use the M-1 zoning to develop something “more damaging to the property.”
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Under an S-1 zoning, Dempsey noted, Williams could use the property for the use expressed in the narrative document—his trailer retail business—provided he use it specifically for that and no other purpose.
“You can specify the use of that entire tract, and that’s all you can do there,” said Chairman Jim Cox to Williams, affirming Dempsey’s suggestion. “If you if you want to do something else, you’d have to come forward and go through a rezoning to either add that that to the special use and do a revision to the plan, or you’d have to request to do a rezoning.”
Williams ultimately elected to withdraw his application without prejudice, allowing him to resubmit his request as an S-1.
Planning Manager Will Butler noted that, should Williams resubmit his request, it would likely come before the Planning Commission again in February.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
