Wal-Mart 'Gateway' seeks more land

The property for a proposed Wal-Mart shopping center near Grovetown increased by more than an acre after the Columbia County Planning Commission OK'd changes Thursday to the preliminary plat.

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Wal-Mart Real Estate Business received unanimous approval to add four lots along Lewiston Road to the development, and they plan to sell the outparcels to businesses that have not yet been named, according to county documents. A small retention pond will be added to one of the lots.

The additional property will not affect the previously-approved site, county planners said.

The development, referred to as the Wal-Mart Gateway project, will now include 17 lots on about 62 acres. It is planned near the intersection of Lewiston Road and Interstate 20.

The preliminary plat was originally approved by the planning commission in August.

Also at the meeting, the planning commissioners approved a rezoning revision request for a special-use permit on a Hardy McManus Road property zoned special district.

Board members voted 3-2 for a 150-foot AT&T cell phone tower to be constructed on property owned by Journey Community Church.

Representatives for AT&T said a 190-foot tower would provide service to between 60 and 70 more homes than the 150-foot tower.

County planners said the 150-foot tower would look better and still adequately serve the area, which includes the Hardy Pointe and Bay Pointe subdivisions.

"(The) 911 (service) is a very important thing to have," said Planning Commissioner Jean Garniewicz, who was in favor of the 190-foot tower. "I think we have to look at it for the safety of this community."

The Columbia County commissioners will vote on the final decision.

In addition, the planning commission approved the following five final plats: Bartles Farm II on Tom Bartles Road, Ellington I at Canterbury Farms on Chamblin Road, a right of way at Marshall Square, Willow Oak Village on Hamilton Road and Spurgeon Bennett Jr. Estate on Cobbham Road. Also, a preliminary plat for a right-of-way on Old Evans Road was approved.

Two text amendments, concerning commercial development design standards at the intersections of Evans-To-Locks and Furys Ferry roads as well as Belair and Columbia roads, were approved and will go before the county Board of Commissioners next month.