A hotel might be on its way near the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Appling.
Sunil and Bhumika Patel submitted a zoning application Sept. 14 for a parcel at 1803 Appling Harlem Rd. The application requests that the property be rezoned from an R-A, or residential agricultural district, to a C-2, or general commercial district for the proposed use as a hotel and gas station.
The Patels applied for the rezoning, but the property is currently owned by Thomas and Mary Wilson, who co-signed the rezoning application.
The AGS1 Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center is close to this location at 2150 Discovery Dr., off of Appling Harlem Road. Gov. Brian Kemp visited Columbia County to celebrate the grand opening of the facility on Oct. 1.
“Our goal both from our side and talking with the county is the make sure we have strategic, quality growth that meets the needs of the community,” said Robbie Bennett, executive director of the Columbia County Development authority.
Neither Bennett nor the Development Authority are involved with this potential project, but he notes that the opening of a hotel could make sense in this area of Appling Harlem Road, as it could be expected to be a node of expansion in the county.
“Given the growth of that Appling Harlem interchange, as it relates to White Oak Business Park, Club Car and that entire development, I think seeing the growth out there is going to be a natural thing,” said Bennett. “I do see a hotel out there as one of those logical next steps.”
The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the rezoning application on Nov. 4.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
