Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. I'd like to call to order the Columbia County Planning Commission meeting for June 18th, 2026. Please stand for the invocation by Mr. Russell Wilder and pledge allegiance also.

Yeah, we'd bow with us. Dear Lord, we want to thank you for this day. We want to thank you for the rain we received so far this week. We ask that you look over us, look over this area as this storm comes through here and keep all of us safe from any harm that this storm may cause. We ask that you look over all of our first responders that will be out there in it all tonight and that you put your hands over on them. We want to thank you for everyone that came out tonight and to participate in this action. We ask that you give everyone a very safe drive home from here tonight as the weather conditions may be bad. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic.

Okay, we do have a quorum this evening, one absent. We have four commissioners here. Gentlemen, you've had the opportunity to review the minutes from the previous meeting, June 4th, 2026. I need approval on those minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the minutes from the June 4th, 2026 planning and zoning meeting. Second.

I got a motion and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Gentlemen, you had an opportunity to review the agenda for this evening. I need approval of that.

Mr. Chairman, motion to approve tonight's agenda? Second.

I have a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to clarify that the Planning Commission is a recommending body to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The decisions made on rezoning and variance request tonight will be forwarded to the commissioners for final action on July 7th, 2026. If you wish to address the Board of Commissioners at their meeting, please see Ms. Mixon to obtain a request to speak form. Any requests with a public hearing will have a minimum of 10 minutes permitted per side. For the presentation of opinions, data, and evidence by proponents or opponents of a request. The applicant will be allowed to speak first, and any member of the public may speak after. Either side may cede their time during the hearing if they so desire. Okay, getting into the debate agenda this evening, we have some unfinished business. We have H1A, temporary use authorization. Will? Will?

The insurance request for a temporary use authorization is actually a renewal of a temporary use at 1003 Robert Moore Road as an RA residential agricultural. Here's the aerial view of the site, again, looking off Robert Moore Road. Location of the property, again, kind of north, we'll say, of Harlem. And the current zoning, again, is primarily RA in the area. And so, again, where we're seeing this from is from October 2024, the applicant got a temporary use authorization to put a camper on the site for basically a year. They went outside the bounds of that time period, basically over a year and a half. So they came back last meeting to kind of go over where they were at with this. We had some issues with that. They hadn't applied for their building permit, hadn't really done a lot on the site to move this thing forward. So we gave them two weeks more to get all that sorted out. Last Friday, they hadn't done anything on the site either, so we did recommend disapproval of this request. However, since then, the applicant has met with staff. has gotten their building permit in. They're moving towards an approval of their building permit. So staff recommends approval of the renewal of their temporary use authorization. I do want to state that this would be for a year only, and we cannot renew it again. So the applicant will have to have this project done in a year from the date of this approval. That includes staff recommendation.

Thank you, Will. Well, Mr. Gutierrez would like to come forward and speak.

My name's Fortino Gutierrez. I live in 1003 Robert Moore Road. I got the plans where the property's gonna go. The only thing that I'm waiting for is the, what's it called? The land disturbance permit, I got that submitted as well. I'm waiting for Blue Water to contact me and move forward from there. So that's what I'm sitting at right now.

Okay. Thank you. Do you have any questions?

I don't, no, sir.

Okay. We need to stress the importance that this is approved. You have a year.

A year.

Okay. We've already given you a little over a year. I know. But I appreciate you working with us and getting what you needed to get to us. I appreciate that and working with Will. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Thank you. God bless you.

Any other member here tonight would like to speak in favor or against? Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, to make a motion to approve the temporary use authorization at 1003 Robert Moore Road. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second for approval. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Getting into new business, the public hearing portion, H2A1, variance 26-06-01, a variance to section 90-135, signs. And this is Naino.

This is 4015 Gateway Boulevard on 1.71 acres. The current zoning is C2, general commercial, and the request is for variance for additional signs. Here is the location. It's south of Gateway Boulevard. It's for the Applebee's restaurant, and this is the zoning, the C2, and the surrounding area is C2 as well. Here's a close-up of the aerial. You can see where the restaurant is in the middle of the parking lot. There's a gas station to the west and the Goodwill stories to the east. Here's a photo of the existing site. This actually shows some of the renovations that were done recently. And here's a plot of the property. So in November of 25, there was a submission for replacement signs for the freestanding sign and wall signs. Those were approved. And the current application is a variance for the awning signs, additional awning signs, and two wall stencil signs. Can you just go back one more? Yeah. So for the awnings, they're on three elevations. And the area requested for the design there works out to 88 square feet. per elevation, which is more than the miscellaneous sign allowance. However, the awning design is fairly simple and not a major distraction. So staff are okay with that proposal. For the west elevation, the proposal is the addition of a stencil sign, the logo of the apple. You can see there that it's on part of the wall that's fairly blank. So staff is satisfied with that location being there again it's not a big distraction to the public and this is the east elevation the proposal is a to-go sign which is at 132 square feet it is well over the miscellaneous sign allowance and it is also facing the parking lot of the goodwill store and the way the parking arrangement is is set out most of the customers would already be in this parking area to see this sign so there isn't really a great need for a sign to be that large on this side of the elevation so staff is recommending a smaller sign. For comparison, this is the Applebee's in the Evans location. You can see it's right next to the cinema, and on the side elevation there, you can see the to-go sign. They got an approval for 9.9 square feet, which is what they applied for, and that was installed, and it's functional. For the to-go sign, we've calculated the miscellaneous allowance would be 27 square feet, so that's what staff is recommending, with the conditions that the awning signs are allowed for a maximum of 89 square feet per elevation. The additional wall sign on the west elevation is allowed at a maximum of 140 square feet, and the additional wall sign on the east elevation is allowed at a maximum of 27.25 square feet. Thank you.

Thank you, Nina. Would the owners of Medlock Properties Group LLC or applicant of AAA Sign Company would like to come forward and add anything to the narrative? Do I have any other member here that is against this? Okay, gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval with conditions, file VA 260601, variance to increase allowed building signage at 4015 Gateway Boulevard. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second for approval.

All those in favor, raise your right hand.

Motion carries. Next item on the public hearing is H2A2, the RZ26-06-01, major planned unit development revision. Dylan.

Yes, sir. As you said, this is an application for a major revision, in this case to reduce the rear setback to allow space for a pool in the backyard at 1868 Champion Circle. This shows the location of the parcel. Noteworthily, it backs up to the Champions Retreat golf course out there. And it is zoned PUD as a part of the original Riverwood PUD, but again, as a part of the overall development of Champions Retreat out there. This is an aerial view of the site. And this is the plat. You can see illustrated here, any of these parcels that back up to the golf course have platted 50-foot rear setbacks. And that's very atypical. Most single-family residential zoning districts in Columbia County have a maximum of a 25-foot rear setback. So we're doubling up on that based on this plat. That is actually the requirement that the applicants are requesting relief from. This is their proposed site plan for the proposed pool. As you can see, they'd be encroaching into the existing 50 foot setback. They're looking to reduce that down to about 25 feet. There's also a platted 25 foot golf course buffer there at the back of their property. They are proposing to leave that completely intact. The only change to their site layout requirements that's currently in place that they're seeking relief from is that 50 foot setback. along the rear lot line. Again, being that there's no other single family residential zoning district that has such a massive rear setback. 25 feet is a perfectly typical and normal rear setback to accomplish the goals of setbacks. Beyond that, there have also been houses in the past in the direct vicinity. In fact, one of the neighbors to this parcel has also received relief from this same setback for the exact same thing, to install a pool there in their backyard. Given this context, staff is comfortable with their request and recommending approval.

Thank you, Dylan. Would the owners, Jared, Jordan, or applicants, Southern Civil Solutions would like to come forward? and speak. Anyone here would like to speak in favor or against this? Okay, none. Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval of RZ26-0601, major PUD revision to reduce the rear setback to 25 feet. It's 1868 Champion Circle. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Next item, H2A3. This is RZ26-06-02. This is a major planned unit development at Hammons Ferry Court. Nina?

Yes, sir. This is the location at 3982 Hammons Ferry Court on .399 acres. The zoning is planned unit development, and the request is to reduce the rear building setback for a pool. Here's the location, and Hammonds Ferry Court is located off Hammonds Ferry Road. This is the zoning, which is planned unit development for the Jones Creek PUD. And he's aerial close up of the aerial of the house. You can see there that just to the north is the common area for the tennis courts. And the residential lot to the south is heavily wooded and that house is about 200 feet from where the pool is going to be. This is the plot of the property. And this is the site plan showing where the current house is and the pool and the pool deck will be located at the back of the house. There is a 10-foot setback requirement, which is what this request is for. There's also utility easement, so there's an encroachment easement being processed at the same time. As you can see, the real lot line, there's two real lot lines, and they meet at an angle where it makes the buildable area visible. difficult, and so that's how the pool is laid out. Generally, there is a staff concern about this. The two houses next to this property, there's no impact to their setback or utility easement. This is the contour lines. The house does slope about 10 feet from the back down to the front, and here's a site photograph. So staff is recommending approval for this request for the setback reduction. The plot shows 2.8 feet. Just to allow for some tolerance on site, staff is comfortable with reducing that to two feet. And the condition is that an easement encroachment agreement will be required. Thank you.

Thank you, Nina. Will the owners of Hajra Muhammad Hassan or John Walter Eldrie or applicant of Southern Civil Solutions would like to come forward and speak? Will I have any other people here that would like to speak in favor or against this? Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval with condition RZ260602, major PUD revision to reduce the rear setback to two feet at 3982 Hammonds Ferry Court. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Next item, H2A4, RZ26-06-03, a major S1 special revision on Pierce Ferry Road. Will? Will.

There's a request for a major revision. At 460 Furious Ferry Road, change the use to a medical office on about 2.8, 2.19 acres. Shows the location of the property off of Furious Ferry Road. And the zoning of the property, again, is zoned S1. The property to the north is also zoned S1. You have some PED around it, some P1 as well. To the south, you have some R3 for the Wexford subdivision. Here's a review of the site. And the existing site itself is currently a daycare. It's been a daycare since 1993. And the plat of the property. The existing plan. This one is very simple. They're changing the use from currently a daycare to what is essentially a medical office. It focuses on a therapy-based medical and clinical program for children operating from 8 to 5 p.m. They do want to be very clear this is not one that does any kind of social, medical, which we kind of have as folks who are a danger to others would be involved in that. That is not this use. Again, be very clear about that. Again, really simple. There's no plans to change the exterior. Interior might have some walls moved, but this is basically changing the uses out. In terms of future development, it's within the traditional neighborhoods character area. Also along Ferris Ferry Road is also a commercial corridor. Again, changing the use from a daycare to a medical use. They're very similar in terms of intensity. They've also, again, the daycare's been there since 1993. It is also along that corridor, which is supposed to have these types of uses within it. So it meets the intent of the Foundations for the Future Coverage and Plan. Do those factors separate recommends approval of the request? And please, staff recommendation.

Thank you, Will. Are the owners of Apple Tree Academy or applicant Vina Properties LLC would like to come forward? Please state your name and address for the records, please.

My name is Jim Trotter, 3615 Walton Way Extension, and this is Dan McNichol with Able Kids. Able Kids has got four existing locations in Columbia County already. It's basically a therapy-based medical and clinical program for children. It's like a medical office. It's a very low-intense use, probably less intense than the daycare use that's there already. And they're not expanding the building or expanding anything there. But we're happy to answer any other questions y'all may have. Okay.

Do we have any questions?

Absolutely.

With everything I hear about daycare availability and what have you, how in the world did a daycare go out of business there? Do y'all know?

I don't know. The owner is having some medical issues and has elected to sell the business and the property. Okay.

All right. Any more questions? No, sir. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else here would like to speak in favor or against? None. Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval of file RZ260603, major S1 revision to revise the allowed use at 461st Ferry Road to a medical office. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Next item, H2A5, RZ26-06-04. This is a major planned unit development revision at 401 Bartram Trail Club Drive. And this is, I don't know who has this. Dylan? Dylan?

Yes, sir. As you've said, this is another application for a major PUD revision, this time at 401 Bartram Trail Club Road, and they are proposing a change of use, approved use for the site. We'll take a look at the property here. This shows the location of the parcel. It is up along Columbia Road, east of Patriots Park, at the front of the Bartram Trail neighborhood development site. It was zoned PUD as a part of the original Bartram Trail neighborhood development back in 1999. However, this parcel specifically was earmarked for commercial use, eyeing, I imagine, a commercial development to serve the community that was intended to be developed back behind it. However, as we can see, it is currently undeveloped, but it was, again, zoned as a part of that original development, although it was intended for commercial use at that time. As we can see now, it is undeveloped and has remained undeveloped since that original rezoning in 1999. This shows the existing site. There are probably several reasons why that parcel has remained undeveloped. We'll take a look at some that are environmental related. This is the plat for the property. And again, this shows it as intended as a part of the overall development. As you can see, even in 1999, it was intended to be a part of that development, whether it was developed commercially or not. And it was always intended to make its access there from Bartram Trail Club Road as shown on this concept plan. This is what is proposed now. Although it was intended for commercial development up until now, the applicants are proposing to develop the site for 38 single-family residential lots. They're proposing buffers all the way around it as per required by code for this sort of development. The only site design issue that they've run into this as far as the Columbia County Code is concerned is that this road is slightly longer, or not slightly, but it is longer than is allowed for a single access road into a development. Typically, that maximum length allowed is 700 feet. This one's about 1,400 feet. However, every single application we receive for major pud revision and concept plan for a single family development of this size is reviewed by fire rescue as well as the fire marshal. They have not expressed significant concern with this, their rescue vehicles. can make their turnaround in the cul-de-sac at the end of this road. So provided this application were to receive approval, the concept as shown here would generally receive approval as well. It is for 38 single-family residential lots. They're proposing typical site and house design as seen throughout the rest of the neighborhood, as well as setbacks. And again, I've already mentioned that they are buffering all the way around the site. We also have a concept plan showing what I've alluded to a little bit already. There are environmental factors impacting the development of this site. Again, the only issue for Columbia County code is the length of the road. However, as we can see as we continue to progress through this slide show, there is significant grading on the site. The site has a creek that spans effectively the kind of the rear lot line, the one shown to the north here. And therefore, there is a topographical fall towards the back of this parcel. Beyond that, you can see kind of the fingers of a topographical draw towards the west end of the site. And being that access was always intended to be made from Bartram Trail Club Road, this layout that is being proposed, whether it were for commercial development or single-family residential development the road in this style and in this layout is probably the most functional given the topography on the site as well as the fact that Columbia Road is owned by the state and so therefore limiting the number of conflict or intersection conflict points or intersections there along a very busy State Road as we all know Columbia Road is is probably preferable. And so this layout that has been submitted has been reviewed by county traffic engineering and there have been no issues raised by that department. Every single, again, application that we receive for this sort of development is reviewed by traffic engineering. Beyond that, this parcel specifically is in the medium density residential character area on the future development map. And the proposed single-family residential development fits that character area. There is a little wrinkle to that. Columbia Road is a commercial corridor. It does allow for some commercial development. However, that's not a mandate. Any commercial development there along Columbia Road or any commercial corridor is intended to serve the residential developments around them and that are predominant in the area. And so there are other examples of commercial development there in the area that could adequately serve this community. And so there's no issue proposing single-family residential development even along a commercial corridor, given that it's within the medium-density residential character area. Lastly, one final note, again, as I've just alluded to, there is commercial development ongoing in this area, specifically across the street in the Ivy Falls subdivision. There's some commercial development on its way up at the William Few and Columbia Road intersection. Obviously, there's existing commercial development that isn't quite all the way built out up at the intersection of Columbia Road and Lewiston Road. Given that there's already commercial real estate available still in the direct vicinity of this area, it's unlikely that the parcel facing these kind of environmental issues is going to be developed before those available parcels. Kind of putting the long-term trajectory for commercial development on this site a little bit into question it may be you know slow to develop and so Given all of these details wrapped into one you know unified context staff is generally comfortable with the Proposed request given the context of the area and is recommending approval of the request for single-family residential development Okay, thank you

Would the owner and applicant, Eric Bedingfield, would like to come forward and speak?

Hello, my name is Eric Bedingfield, and not only the owner and developer of the property, but also a Bartram Trail resident. So everything that I'm doing with this neighborhood is with what's best for the entire development neighborhood. Safety, traffic count, going residential will be much, much less stress on the entire area traffic-wise than anything commercial would. And I think for the safety of the neighborhood, all the neighbors would hopefully agree that having a strip mall across the front of Bartram Trail would not be in the best interest either.

What's your address in Bartram?

2159 Father Gill. Okay.

Okay.

I got a question. On the 25-foot structural buffer, I see you got a proposed six-foot wooden privacy fence there. Other than that, are you doing a berm or something between the walking trail?

Yes, yes. There will be a berm. I'm trying to figure out that Columbia Road piece. The wood fence will be on the neighborhood side of that berm. And then on top of that, it will be just like what's across the way going down Columbia Road, which is part of our trail.

So that walk path will be undisturbed. That's right. You're going to go right.

And you'll have a berm.

That's right.

That's correct. I know you probably can't. but how tall would it be?

That would probably be a question for my engineer, Bo. Do you know on that how the buffer would look between there and the fence?

Can you come up and speak? We can't hear you. I'm sorry. We have to record this. Yeah, and we're old.

Bo Slaughter with James Swift & Associates, 1428 White Rock Road. The berm, there hasn't really been a berm design plan for that yet. It's just a landscaped and structural buffer. So we'll try to keep and utilize all the vegetation trees that are in good shape. And then that may, working with the county landscaper, We'll add trees, bushes, or a berm. I mean, we won't do anything outside of the right-of-way, which that trail is in Columbia County Road right-of-way. So we'll work with the landscaper to, you know, have a nice.

So the plan right now is a 25-foot buffering with the current woods.

Yes, sir. And then the wood fence. Right, and then we'll, you know, implement whatever we need to make it a nice, opaque, attractive, you know. Buffer.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you. Any more questions? Anyone else here would like to speak in favor? Anyone here would like to speak against? You can come forward and state your name and address for the record, please.

My name is Jason Page. My address is, well, the address I'm talking about is 470 Bartram Trail Club Drive. I'm the owner of Bartram Trail Golf Club. I'm not really for it or against it. I just wanted to kind of represent some or present some problems that I have with my pond that's in front of my restaurant being used as a detention site for a regional detainee. in the area, regional detention pond. Where we get 100% of our irrigation for the golf course comes from that pond. When I purchased it five years ago, we had a pretty good drought going through there. And I had to purchase my own well and dig my own wells, about 30,000. So as it sits right now, I'm currently making it from drought to drought with a lot of help from myself dumping 100 gallons of water in an hour. So my concern is, and it's not just necessarily with this particular, the reserve at Bartram, I'm going to benefit tremendously from 38 houses coming into the neighborhood through the restaurant, through golf memberships, et cetera. So as far as that's concerned, I don't, I mean, I'm, Sure, support it. Where I'm concerned is the issues that I'm having with torpidity from the construction side of it, getting into the creek system, which is in turn going to get down to my ponds. Right now, Uchi Creek Developers is, if you go back a slide or two, is building... The parcel up in, coming off of, yeah, coming off of William Few. And these last two or three events that we've had, my pond is turning orange. And we have brought it up to the county a couple times. They've given them citations, but citations are not going to get the sediment out of my pond. at this stage in the game. And I'm also thinking that even as far as where this creek system lies, all the way up to William Few and Columbia Road, where they're building that new, whatever, the grocery stores or whatever, I think I'm even getting some turbidity down there from that. And then there's another development getting built by Uche Creek, Will Dozier, in the middle of Bartram. There's two or three houses getting built in there, and it's right there on another creek. And the creek water is vital for Bartram Trail Golf Club to stay alive, which would mean Bartram Trail residents maintain their property values, et cetera. I'm not at all concerned with the 38 houses, but the county and I or somebody's got to come to an agreement because if this was built out for a regional detention pond, this is my private property. I just don't see how it's fair for me to have to deal with the millions of cubic yards that's going to get put in there from sediment. I mean, I have 20, 25 million gallons of water now, and if we have another event like we're having tonight, it's continuing to get orange and continuing to get more sediment in there. I mean, I'm going to have an 8 million gallon pond, and I need 25, and I can only put 2 million in it a day. So that's my problem, and that's what I wanted to bring to the county. You know, I think regardless if this is, I mean, residential would obviously be best for us, commercial. Whoever builds on there, we're going to have to figure out a way to deal with it until it gets built out.

Right. I understand that it was commercial prior, and now it's planned unit, and now it's going to the major, correct? So... Either way, something's going to go in there eventually, and I understand your concerns and the problems you're having. I really do. Now, when they build these and plan these, they do run silt fencing, am I correct? And that's how county ordinance would do that. I guess silt fencing is not working as well as it should.

If the silt fence was working and the guidelines that y'all, when I say y'all, whoever designed this, the engineers, I wouldn't, my pond wouldn't be orange. It's just that simple. I had a problem when I first purchased the course on hole number 13. That was an eight-foot deep pond. And after they got done building four oaks, my pond is maybe 20 inches deep now. And it's completely filled with the willows that are, you know... revealed when sediment comes, the willows that grow in the middle of the pond. I mean, even over on, I live on hole number eight, which is a pond that's across from my yard. That pond is significantly less deep than it was, and we've had some willows come in there from that, from the development that was silt-fenced, you know, planned, engineered, whatever, but I still have a tremendous amount of sediment coming across the fairway on eight Every time we have any kind of event on 13, the engineered design that was approved by the county, there's three 24-inch culvers that are dumping water on my property every day. If the homeowners up there at Four Oaks want to water their plants or the county wants to come out there and test fire hydrants, they put the water in the cul-de-sac and it runs down on my hole on 13. And I have to do cart path only on that hole in the middle of the summer when it's drought. because it's a mud pack. So I'm trying to kind of be proactive about this now. I can't afford to get into kind of legal battles. I can't afford to spend $200,000 or $300,000 to dredge the pond out when these developments are done. I mean, it's just we need to do something about it. I feel like something needs to be done about it now. And they can fill my pond up. If the end of this thing is over with, they come and dredge it all out. That's fine. But I've got to have water to irrigate the course.

Have you reported any of this to county staff for stormwater? Daily. Look for them?

Daily. Okay. I mean, this is something that I've been... I mean, even today is when I found out officially that the pond was the regional detention pond. And I just... I can't even... I can't even understand the... the mentality of if this is my private property, every property owner around me is allowed to dump their sediment in my pond and hope that a silt fence keeps it out. That's not fair. So that's what I want something to be done about, and this may not be about the reserve or whatever, but I can't keep getting dumped on.

Have you reached out to your county commissioner? Yes, sir. Well, there goes my suggestions. That's our suggestions.

And I'll tell you why I'm so aggravated about this is when I did address this, I had the county come out with the state, with the developer, and we all met out there one day. This is on 13. This is the Four Oaks situation. Came out there, met with them, and they found a lot of violations. All I asked them to do was do a post-construction cleanup. And that's something that wouldn't have cost the county anything, wouldn't have cost me anything. Just hold that developer accountable. to get his bond back, just do a post construction cleanup. And I found out later they had a closed meeting without me there to come to some solution with this whole thing. And they basically said, unless you want this to be Jones Creek 2.0, stay away from it. And that's when I knew then that I didn't want to go that route. Instead of going that route, I would have to figure out a way to just take out a loan myself and clean out the pond myself. that would be the lesser of expense of all that. So I don't want to get into that situation. I just want some guarantees that my pond is going to be whatever it is right now or better when this thing is done or all these things around me are done.

Any more questions? Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any more? Anyone else would like to speak? Right here. State your name and address, please.

Good evening. My name is Paige Rivera. I live at 2102 Father Gill Drive. Not pretending to speak on behalf of the neighborhood. I'm just a resident, but a 16-year resident. I've come before y'all several times. This is my Bartram Trail rezoning folder. We've worked successfully with you guys over the years to try to protect the integrity of Bartram Trail, and every time one of these rezoning requests comes up, we just always want to make sure that that's... front and center in your minds as you make this decision. So there's a couple of things. We know something's going in there, and this isn't really for or against commercial or residential per se, but from what I can tell from speaking to my neighbors, an informal poll that was done in the neighborhood, the general sentiment seems to be that we're okay with the rezoning proposal with one huge caveat, which is that it has to be part of the HOA and the covenants and the charter. And from my understanding, there hasn't been enough time. This has all been very fast. The property was purchased early in the year. This request was just filed on the 12th of May. I don't think our HOA has had enough time to do the due diligence to make sure that... everything that needs to be done to make sure it gets folded. And I've read everywhere Mr. Bedingfield wants that to happen. Blanchard and Calhoun wants that to happen. Everybody agrees that that needs to happen. But unless y'all know something I don't know or we don't know, I don't know that we've had the time to do the due diligence just to make sure that that... And we faced this back when the assisted living parcel was wanting to... It was... proposed to reason to to single-family homes we came before you then and we said first of all we can't handle that many more single-family homes in our neighborhood and so we want we asked for the 55 and older community you guys approved it with that with that condition that it be the 55 and older community which theoretically would put less stress on the roads the amenities the entrances and exits. And so we're kind of in the same place now that we were then, just at the other entrance, which is actually more congested, worse. We sit in a long line to get out. I've been wondering for a while if there wasn't a plan to put a light in there. I don't want one, but there's been so many accidents right there in front of the neighborhood that It seems like it's inevitable. People already, when they're coming into the neighborhood, make a mistake and come in the exit. So, you know, I appreciate that the original plan was always for that to be the entry point to whatever goes in there, but it's really... it would be scary to us that there would be that much traffic going in and out of that little area and 38 single-family homes is in our opinion just too many I understand that it' s a long skinny track and there' s not a lot of But it was the same way we felt with Cedarvale, which is just that the neighborhood can't, that's too many homes to go into that area. And especially if you're going to have to approve it with the condition that that street be even twice as long as it's supposed to be. And then the twice as long is going to make it even more homes. I just would like you to consider that. Obviously, you know if I know that it's been recommended for approval You know if it gets approved, there's all the we barely touched on it tonight But you know you asked about the fence and the and the bear and the barrier, you know Obviously it would have to match whatever's on the other side. We went through this with with the other side There's stone columns right now in there's fencing with stone columns and all of the trees were cut down when they when they did that and then they later came back and acknowledge that it was a mistake all I mean it was raised the whole thing was raised they've grown back over you know they're starting to grow back but we would need to make sure that that didn't happen on the other side. So I think it' s a great question. I think my request and based on some of the neighbors I' ve talked to is I don' t know how this works but this be tabled. It sounds like from what jason page said and there' s a lot more homework that So, um, but definitely to make sure we've got to make sure that it's going to be able to be folded into our HOA because if it's not, then we absolutely would prefer commercial to, to, to having a strip of homes up there, you know, and, and we have the, the, um, those of us that have been around a long time know what happened across the street in Ivy Falls when things don't, don't come up under the HOA. And, um, and we don't want that for our neighborhood and we've tried really hard for the last 16 years to protect it and keep that from happening.

That's the main thing is the HOA. 100%.

The county has nothing to do with the HOAs. That's between the two parties.

But I think we need time to work that out because there was a little bit of legal wrangling that I think had to happen with Cedarvale. They do fall up under our HOA with some different conditions since they're not utilizing all of the trash and the resources. I'm not 100% sure, but they have their own kind of deal going on up there but they are part of the hoa and they do fall up under our charter and our covenants um and so i just feel like we feel like we need time to make sure that that it's in place before before you recommend before you approve it we would appreciate that just got to know we're talking the rezoning here but they still would have to come back for a preliminary plan final plan correct yes well you've you have a couple steps you've obviously if you were to take an action tonight or even at the next meeting but certainly if you took action tonight

that's just a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. They don't meet until July 7th, so that gives right now over two weeks to come up with some sort of decision before even they take action. And even if they were to take action, there's certainly nothing that would prevent the two parties from getting together and coming to an agreement about how they would roll into the HOA, et cetera, et cetera. So I think there's still opportunities. And then as you did point out, even if this were to be rezoned for residential, they'd have to come back through the Planning Commission for preliminary plat approval, which would be, I won't speak for the developer or the engineer, but probably a couple months at least before they would be in for that. So there's certainly opportunities for time to get together and get that ironed out. It doesn't have to be a postponement by you guys, but certainly I do understand where she's coming from on that.

And if I can just, not to repeat myself, but if there's a way to consider, you know, I know the lot isn't great, but, you know, the original charter, the original master plan for Bartram Trail called for three patio home developments. from the beginning. And they're already done. Calmius, Latola, and Sunbury, they're done. So we weren't really supposed to have another patio home development in the neighborhood to begin with. And so can it be estate homes? Can it be, you know, something that faces the golf course, you know, that has a beautiful view of the hole behind it, but maybe doesn't have homes on the other side of the street? You know, I don't know what the options are. I'm not, that's not my, but, you know, the master plan didn't call for another, another 38 home patio home development in the neighborhood.

I don't, nothing in our write-ups made it sound like they were patio homes per se.

Well, just the smaller, I mean, these are two-tenths of a lot, two-tenths of an acre. The small, I'm calling them patio, but we've got three developments where they've got front-facing garages. And, I mean, I'm calling them patio homes. I don't know what the, but where the driveways are short, they have front-facing garages. We already have three of those in the neighborhood.

Is it similar to the neighborhood across the street?

Yes, that's one of them. That's Satola. Yes, Sunbury's on the other side. And then Calmea's in the middle in the park section. And so we've got those three sections of short driveways. And they serve their purpose, you know, but it was only supposed to ever have three. So I just think there's a lot to consider and would respectfully ask that we be given time for all that to happen. get hashed out before you make your decision.

Has your HOA been meeting with Mr. Benningfield?

That I don't know. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Eric Beddingfield here just to address some of Paige's concerns there. A lot of her concerns are my concerns too as a neighbor and one of the reasons we bought this parcel. So zone commercial right now as it is and the way that property lays out, it would be a strip center just like what's across the street at Ivy Falls without a doubt. I've had a few. neighbors say, hey, we thought something kind of similar to Riverwood, you know, might be a grocery store and shops like that. Unfortunately, that would never go on that piece. It would certainly be a strip mall type development, would be much, much more traffic count, you know, tenfold of what 38 homes would be. And as far as the aesthetics of the neighborhood, it is definitely our wish to involve this into the Bartram HOA. I've met with the board of the HOA, and we're all on the same page with that. So I think that's just going to be a simple vote, and I can't imagine any of the existing neighbors not wanting that to be involved in the HOA. So we can say, just with her concerns, we want the signage the same. We want the houses to look the same. We want the same look and feel of the neighborhood as it is. And that, just to try to... To settle some of those concerns, those were my top concerns too. And like I said, one of the reasons we decided to buy this and ask for it to be resold residential.

Do you have any issue putting double row of silt fence along the streamline?

Could you say that again?

Would you have any issue doing double row of silt fence along the streamline? Yes.

No, like I said, Jason's a friend of mine. Whatever eases his concerns is something I'd want to do anyway.

Yeah, I would consider that. I think as part of the preliminary plant design, when they come in, stormwater management's going to be looking at that very closely, and it may require additional best management practices on that lower side, given some of the issues we've had in that area. Okay.

Right. And as far as the homes, do you have any kind of idea, what kind of square footage you're looking at, average?

We're looking at what would be similar to what's across the street. Of course, this is being on the golf course there. The golf course facing lots, I think on some of the back end, there may be six or seven of them that will be basement homes facing the golf course too. So they'll be bigger homes. They'll be bigger than what's in Sunbury.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else would like to speak? Okay, gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval of RZ 260604, major PUD revision to revise the allowed use at 401 Bartram Trail Club Drive to single-family residential. I'll second. I'll second.

I have a motion on the floor. All those in favor of the motion, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Next item, H2A6, RZ26-06-05, Major Plan Unit Development. This is 785 Jones Creek. Danielle Yes, sir.

This is a request for a major revision to the planned unit development at 785 Jones Creek This is in regards to the development standards for the pool area in Jones Creek As this shows the location of the property back within Jones Creek at the end of Tyndall Drive It is zone planned unit development as is the rest of Jones Creek and This shows the aerial of the existing site Essentially, this site was constructed before the county adopted standards for community recreation areas, such as community pools. So the site is legally nonconforming at this point. It was built before those requirements were in place. This is the existing site, and so you can see the existing pool house there to the right. And this is the view from Tyndall Drive. And the current plan is to expand the pool house expansion of the building does trigger the requirements for nonconforming properties to be brought into compliance. So that is why we have the major revision request before us. Basically the existing pool and pool house do not meet those requirements without completely scraping and redeveloping the site. It's not possible for them to do so. So the revision is to modify those requirements. Again, the intent is to add this addition onto the front of the pool house towards the parking area. It's primarily for handicap accessible bathrooms and allows for the existing pool house to be repurposed for additional pool equipment, lifeguard area, and other uses. So county code requires a 50-foot setback for a pool. You can see that in the orange outline. So essentially the entire pool would have to fit within that orange line, which clearly it currently does not. There is also a 25-foot building setback requirement that is shown by the yellow line. So all of the pool house should fit within that yellow line. That runs right about down the roof ridge, so clearly it does not fit within that setback requirement. And then against the residential properties to the west and the south, there would be a 20-foot buffer required. Now, portions of the site can meet that, but the existing pool house does intrude into that buffer, so they will be asking for a buffer reduction where that existing building is. So the revision again reduces the setbacks for the pool to accommodate the existing pool location. So that's 35 and 40 feet from the property lines to accommodate that existing pool. It does request reducing the building setback for the pool itself to six feet from the adjacent residential property. That is to accommodate the existing pool house location and then the expansion of it along the same line. And they are also requesting to reduce that setback to 20 feet from the northeast property line to accommodate the proposed expansion. Again, that is towards the parking lot, and that 20 feet does still provide sufficient area to address building and fire code issues. And then finally, they are requesting a reduction in the buffer for the area where the pool house itself is. So that would reduce the buffer width to six feet to match that building setback line. So they would be installing the buffer basically between the fence and the pool house there. This shows some examples of what's happened to the property over time. There was some damage from the hurricane, so there is going to be some replanting that's involved in the site plan to meet the buffer requirements along those residential properties. This property is in the traditional neighborhoods character area. It is part of an existing neighborhood, and this revision does not change the use of the property. It basically just improves the existing community pool area. And staff is recommending approval.

Thank you, Danielle. Will the owners of Jones Creek Association or the applicant, Mr. Nanny, would like to come forward and speak?

Good evening, Chairman, Commissioners. I'm Trip Nanny. I live at 4113 Heritage Ridge in Evans, which is in Jones Creek. I'm here on behalf of the Jones Creek community to request approval of the variances necessary to rebuild our existing pool house and pump facility. In addition to being a concerned resident, I am president of the HOA of Jones Creek. First, I want to emphasize that we're not seeking to create a new use or expand the footprint of the pool itself. We're simply trying to replace a facility that has served our neighborhood for approximately 35 years and has reached the end of its useful life. existing building has significant structural and functional deficiencies the pump room is undersized and requires expansion to accommodate modern equipment and current code requirements without these improvements maintaining safe and reliable operation of the pool comes increasingly difficult and expensive. the current facility is not ADA accessible. The bathrooms do not meet accessibility standards limiting the ability of all residents and guests to use the facility safely and comfortably. This project provides an opportunity to correct those deficiencies and bring the facility into compliance with modern accessibility requirements. The restroom facilities themselves are in extremely poor condition. The plumbing system experiences recurring blockages. The flooring has deteriorated significantly. Privacy features are inadequate and the overall condition of the building no longer meets the expectations of a safe and functional community amenity. this project is not being pursued for luxury or major expansion is being undertaken because the existing structure is outdated deteriorated and no longer capable of serving the needs of our residents these proposed improvements will improve public safety Bring the facility closer to ADA accessibility standards. Allow installation of code-compliant pool equipment. Improve sanitation and restroom functionality. Preserve a valuable recreational asset for hundreds of neighborhood residents. We have 579 home sites. It'll also increase the long-term viability and appearance of our community. The requested variances are necessary because the existing facility was built decades ago under, as Daniel said, different standards and site constraints. Rebuilding within the current configuration while meeting modern code requirements leaves limited alternatives. We believe this request represents a reasonable solution and balances the intent of zoning ordinance with practical realities of upgrading aging infrastructure. The project will have minimal impact on surrounding properties while providing substantial benefits to the Jones Creek community and Columbia County. On behalf of the residents of Jones Creek, I respectfully ask for your approval of the requested variances. If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. Thank you. Do we have any questions?

If approved, how long do you look to be the pool be closed? Just ask.

Perfect world. We're going to start the second week closed right after Labor Day, and we want to open on time in April. We're using, in fact, they're here, Clifton Construction, and Bo is involved as well. So we are confident in what they've told us that we can meet those requirements.

All right.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other member of the audience would like to speak in favor or against? Just come forward and state your name and address for the record, please.

good evening my name is Larry Carter I live at 4165 Tyndall Drive right adjacent to the pool I appreciate all the time I thought this committee put in this reviewing this matter two years ago and again now. My main concern with their new proposal is to get a clarification on the plan for a fence and landscaping between our properties. For 35 years, there were large trees and a fence creating a buffer between the pool and my home. Five years ago, Mr. Nanny removed the trees, took down the pool fence adjacent to my property and began using my fence instead. If you recall, this committee informed them at that time that my fence did not meet code for a pool and was a potential danger for children climbing on it, which does occur. It's now two years later, and they still have not replaced the fence they removed. They're still using my fence for the pool. Apparently, they do not feel they need to follow the rules and recommendations set forth by this committee, just like they haven't respected my privacy. If these variances are approved that allow only a six-foot setback instead of the 25-foot setback normally required or the 12-foot setback that this committee recommended two years ago, I would like reassurances that a new fence will be placed back where the previous fence had been located and appropriate landscaping to be planted to restore the buffer that previously existed. Their current proposal is vague and on their drawings appears to only show a fence around the immediate building area on my side, not the length of the prior fence that they removed. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Do we have any questions?

Okay. You can come forward and state your name and address, please, for the record.

Good evening. My name is Judy Brown, and I live at 4166 Tyndall Drive. I' m not for or against I just want to make a statement. I would like an affirmation that the building materials and or equipment related to this project will not be left or stored overnight on the public right of way behind the pool this is

Which one? Where is Tyndall Drive at?

It's right behind the pool.

Okay, okay. It's a cul-de-sac, right? It's a cul-de-sac, yeah. And Dr. Brown, you live on that, right? Carter? Carter, right there. All right, thank you.

So, I don't...

I don't... Tripp, have y'all addressed the fence issue? I don't...

If I could, the site plan does show an 8-foot privacy fence to be installed the entire length of that property line. That's what I was coming up to say.

Hi, I'm Carrie Wynn and I'm 3962 Hammonds Ferry and I am the pool and tennis chairperson for the HOA. I just wanted to reiterate, I did consult with Dr. Carter on two different occasions in February and April about our plan for this and I verbally mentioned we do plan to build a new 8-foot wooden privacy fence and add some you know evergreen shrubs to the area that had been previously there because That is true that we you know, currently don't have a separate fence But we were waiting on the current variances being approved in order and the building project before we proceed with those fence and shrub plans So we do plan on including it and I believe it was in the packet.

Okay. Thank you. Mr. Carr. Are you satisfied with that? I

It looks like it's going to extend the entire property.

It was already a column. There was a fence connecting one column to another column. That's the fence that was taken down. It didn't show it clearly, at least with a green ink showing what a fence was going to be. Now it just needed that clarification.

Okay.

Any one? Scott.

I was going to say, just to kind of clarify, I think in terms of the lay down area for construction, I mean, wouldn't it, I think it would make more sense for you to be in the parking lot of the clubhouse side. I just think, you know, that's something that we'll have to try and work with the... HOA and try and make sure that it's out of the road right away.

Yeah, I'm sure that I don't think it would go in that cul-de-sac.

It doesn't make sense to haul it all the way across the site.

Right.

It makes sense to park it in the parking lot.

Okay, do I have any more speakers? Anyone else would like to come forward? We have any questions anymore? We're good? Clear? Okay, gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval of file RZ260605, major PUD revision to reduce setbacks and buffers at the community recreation area at 785 Jones Creek. Second.

I have a motion on the floor and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. Next item, H2A7, RZ26-06-06, change of conditions on Columbia Road. Danielle?

Yes, sir. This is a request for a change of conditions at 4434 Columbia Road. This is related to removal of a previously adopted condition that went along with the conditional use for massage on this property. This shows the location of the site on the south side of Columbia Road, just east of the intersection with Bel Air Road. And it is currently zoned P1 Professional with that conditional use for massage that was approved in 2015. This shows the area of the site. It is a multi-tenant professional office complex, as you can see here. And when the conditional use was approved in 2015, it was approved with the condition that only one massage business could operate on this parcel. The current applicants are requesting to remove that condition to allow a second salon offering massage services to be located on this property. therapeutic massage is regulated not just by the conditional use process but also by state license and county licensing processes that use takes place inside an existing building and is usually offered in conjunction with other services as is the case with the proposed applicant she is proposing to move her existing salon from a location here in Evans to this property Since this use takes place entirely inside the existing building, it's unlikely to have any negative impacts on any of the adjacent properties, and staff is recommending approval.

Thank you, Danielle. Will the owner of Warner Properties LLC or applicant Christina Carino would like to come forward and speak?

Good evening, my name is Christine Carino, and I have been licensed with a business license here in Columbia County since 2012. I have had a day spa that is under the regulations of the Board of Cosmetology for a cosmetology salon, along with the massage operators, massage zoning, all that. I keep good tabs with Aaron Hall. I employ six people. I have letters from some of my clients that I've worked with, and I'm just simply looking to relocate from where I'm at to something a little bit smaller, a little bit more... open uh we've had some issues where we're at with some homeless people kind of stealing bicycles from the bike shop and being in the woods and just not a place you want to walk out at seven o'clock at night in the dark so that's one of the reasons i'm leaving i i don't want to be there um and also it's a little bit closer to my home in ivy falls which gets me to my granddaughter who I have custody of should there ever be an emergency. I don' t have to try to get through this whole area to get to Lewiston Elementary to get to her. It' s a straight shot up Columbia Road. That' s one of the reasons that I' m relocating. I have pretty much my whole staff here with me. They' re all licensed massage therapists and estheticians and cosmetologists. I'm just asking for this to go through.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any questions? No, sir. Okay, thank you. Okay. Any other member who would like to speak in favor or against? Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to recommend approval of file RZ-260606, change of conditions to remove the condition limiting the property at 4434 Columbia Road to one massage business. Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor, raise your right hand. Motion carries. I see we have no legal matters this evening. Any staff or commissioner comments?

No, sir.

Any public comments or participation? I see none. Gentlemen, can I get a motion?

Mr. Chairman, motion to adjourn. Second.

I have a motion to adjourn. All those in favor, raise your right hand. We are adjourned.