The Columbia County Planning staff has recommended approval to rezone a 107-acre parcel on Clanton Road and Old Pearre Place in Evans from residential agricultural to planned residential development.
The owners of the property, Pollard Land Company and Rachel Miles, along with CSRA Development LLC, applied for the rezoning on June 10, setting their sights on building a subdivision called “The Laurels,” which the narrative document included with the application calls an “active adult residential development.”
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“The proposed community preserves 52.3% in greenspace or five times the required amount of greenspace,” said the narrative document. The planned neighborhood proposes plenty of open space, 50-to-100-foot exterior buffer; amenities such a park, swimming pool and tennis court; and a structure of sidewalks that the document calls its “Complete Pedestrian System.”
The Laurels is to include no more than 210 detached single-family units, with lots ranging from 6,600 to 7,300 square feet. According to the narrative, if the project is approved, development would take between four and six years, with phase one beginning construction in June of next year.
The planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the request and the plan with conditions, one of which being that the applicants provide recorded copies of the covenants and deed allowing only residents aged 55 or older.
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The planning staff also recommended approving a conditional use request, with conditions, by Deep Patel and LAXMI 5 LLC for a proposed gas station on South Belair Road. Patel is seeking to expand and improve the property, which currently includes a convenience store. The staff report notes that Patel also submitted a companion variance request to address the setback for the existing gas pumps along South Belair Road.
The Columbia County Planning Commission is scheduled to address both as part of its agenda for its Thursday, July 7 meeting.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering education in Columbia County and business-related topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
