Members of a Columbia County Commission committee rejected an easement request on behalf of a Louisville, Ky., development company.
The request from WBCS Architecture was for an easement across county-owned property to install a 20-foot wide and 320-foot long sewer connection to property at 487 Fury’s Ferry Road.
The connection is necessary for Woods on Reed Creek, a proposed subsidized housing development of 38 single family homes. The developer, Marian Development Group, has applied to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for tax-credit funding.
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The land where the sewer line would be built is part of the county’s green space inventory.
In the request, Jonathan Brannon of WBCS Architecture said, “The environmental engineer has determined that the crossing of the creek and wetlands disturbance will be temporary.”
County staff disagreed: “While the installation work may be temporary, if this sewer line is installed, County staff will ensure that the 20-foot-wide easement remains free of trees and shrubs for the duration of the life of the sewer line. This must be done to ensure the line operates as designed, free from root intrusion from the trees and shrubs. The easement must also remain clear for access to all of the line and manholes for maintenance of the system. Therefore, this is not a temporary impact but a permanent change to the green space.”
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The proposal is to build on 17.2 acres of land currently owned by a living trust.
County Manager Scott Johnson said, “There’s a reason why this particular piece of property has not been developed in a long time. Probably the biggest reason is because it doesn’t have good access to infrastructure.”
Johnson said the committee is not telling the developer it cannot build the project, but the county is unwilling to compromise a county green space to allow for development.
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County staff is recommending the request be rejected. Members of the public works and engineering services committee voted to send it to the full commission with a recommendation that the request be denied.
Marian Development Group and its partner Park Terrace Companies of Valdosta, Ga., have not responded to a request for comment.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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