Former fire station land rezoned for guest home

The Columbia County Commission on Tuesday approved the rezoning of land once used to house an Appling fire station.

//

During the 20-minute meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to rezone about a half-acre at 2733 Louisville Road from special use to residential/agricultural. Commissioner Ron Thigpen abstained from voting, citing a working relationship with the property owner.

Though Bill Jones, a resident of a nearby subdivision, did not necessarily object to the rezoning, he did ask that county officials monitor the property to make sure it complies with the zoning requirements.

In the recent past, Jones said, the property had been used to repair numerous vehicles.

Since that time, however, most vehicles have been removed from the property and repair work has ceased, a county code enforcement official told commissioners.

John West, a lawyer for the landowner, told the commission that the former fire station will now be used as a guest home.

After commissioners clarified a mapping error, they unanimously approved the rezoning of lots at 4140 and 4141 Freeman Ave. from apartment uses to a planned unit development.

Other items approved by the commission included:

- Installing speed humps on Autumn Trail.

- Reducing the speed limits on portions of Old Evans and Blackstone Camp roads to 35 mph.

- Spending an estimated $325,000 to relocate water lines on Washington Road at Halali Farm Road, near a section of Euchee Creek, and on Columbia Road from Belair Road to North Old Belair Road to accommodate upcoming state Department of Transportation projects.