Planning commission approves zoning changes
A waste disposal company's rezoning request for a parking facility received a positive recommendation Thursday by the Columbia County Planning Commission.
//
Planning commissioners voted in favor of rezoning eight acres at the intersection of Chamblin and Columbia roads from Residential-Agricultural to Manufacturing-2. The issue now must receive final approval at the Board of Commissioners next meeting on Nov. 6 in Appling.
Advance Disposal, which operates a solid waste transfer station across Columbia Road from the site, is looking to purchase the land to serve as a parking area for its trucks and for office space, said Vernon Smith, a real estate agent for the seller.
No objections were made during the hearing, and planning commissioners approved the rezoning with a requirement that a 40-foot buffer of vegetation shield the trucks from view from the road.
Planning commissioners also unanimously agreed to rezoning requests made by two Appling churches looking to expand their facilities.
Friendship Baptist Church on North Tubman Road sought a rezoning of its property from R-A to Special-1. The church is under contract to purchase nearly six acres of adjoining property, for an expansion to include a family life center, a gymnasium, classrooms and additional parking, according to a county document.
Also approved was a request to rezone the property of Rehoboth Baptist Church, on Ridge Road, from Residential-4 to S-1. The church is planning the eventual demolition of its current worship area to make room for a larger sanctuary, according to a county document.
The zoning changes were required because both properties were deemed a non-conforming use for residentially-zoned property and construction permits could not be granted without the change.
In other business, planning commissioners gave positive recommendations to:
- A rezoning of 0.25 acres at 254 North Belair Road from Residential-2 to Professional-1.
- A variance request to permit overhead doors at a car wash at 4393 Washington Road.