Willow Lake setback denied

Columbia County planning commissioners denied a request Thursday to reduce the side setbacks of homes planned for an Evans subdivision.

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Developers wanted to reduce the side building setbacks from 5 to 3 feet inside section two of Willow Lake on Furys Ferry Road, which is part of the Jones Creek subdivision.

Planning commissioners had questions regarding the homes' property values.

"We've had several house plans drawn, and we just felt like this was an option that we needed," said Bruce Lyons, a developer of the property. "We just don't see it hurting the property values."

Lyons said that the revision would mainly apply to smaller lots at the front of the development.

In March, the housing style inside the subdivision changed from townhouse to single-family housing as approved by the planning and zoning board.

"It was originally zoned for 128 apartments when we purchased the property, but we never had any intentions of putting apartments on it," Lyons said. "We have dramatically reduced the number of units that are going to go on this property."

The planning commission disapproved the request 4-1, with Planning Commissioner Thom Tuckey dissenting.

Also at the meeting, two minor revisions to planned unit developments were approved.

The board allowed for a carport to be constructed inside a townhouse development in Evans.

The open-air structure is planned for a townhouse at 2006 Egret Circle, which is part of the River Island Settlement off Blackstone Camp Road. Three neighboring townhouses have garages that front the street.

The board also permitted about three acres at 415 Town Park Lane to be divided into two separate lots for office use.

The planning and zoning board also approved a preliminary plat request for 71 lots on about 22 acres inside The Hills at Berkley Hills subdivision. The property is part of a larger planned unit development located off William Few Parkway.