Threat to plant life puts paving project on hold

A county proposal to pave Burks Mountain Road was tabled again Thursday during a Columbia County Planning Commission meeting so officials could evaluate whether the project will threaten a rare rock outcropping and its unique plant life.

The $1 million paving project, one of 46 proposed projects to pave dirt roads in the county, is divided into two phases.

The first phase would pave the road from Washington Road to Rosemont Road, and the second phase would pave Burks Mountain Road beyond Rosemont Road to its end.

The second phase, which would involve straightening the road, was of concern to Judy Gordon, a retired Augusta State University biology professor, who had persuaded the commission to table the plan at its Feb. 17 meeting.

Gordon said before the meeting that she had met with county preconstruction engineer Ronnie Hutto and was hopeful the plans would not endanger two state-protected plant species or a newly discovered species found only in the area.

In other planning and zoning business, the commission:

- Approved the preliminary and final plats for paving projects for Neil Brown and Grant roads.

The plan for Neil Brown Road includes redesigning its intersection with Harlem-Grovetown Road to create a four-way intersection with Louisville Road.

- Approved the preliminary plat for Rhodes Farm Phase 1, a 69-lot, 55.8-acre housing development off Evans to Locks Road.

- Approved the preliminary plat for Dunwoody Place, a 22-lot, 55.1-acre housing development off Cobbham Road.

- Approved the preliminary plat for the Townhomes at Willow Lake, a 59-unit town home development off Furys Ferry Road.

- Tabled a rezoning request for a 9.15-acre parcel at 4518 Hereford Farm Road that would add a residential cluster overlay to its R2 zoning because of conflicts with county road requirements and other concerns.