The Columbia County Planning Commission approved a plan revision at their Thursday meeting that will allow McDonald's to locate within Riverwood Town Center in Evans.
The fast-food restaurant will join a recently constructed Publix, which opened Nov. 4. Several other businesses, including a CVS pharmacy, are expected to open in coming months.
McDonald's is proposed for an acre out-parcel fronting Washington Road next to the pharmacy. The restaurant will contain 49 parking spaces and about 75 seats inside the brick building.
"The corporation wanted to actually give more landscaping to the area," said Kevin Fort, the county's plan review manager.
Construction on McDonald's could start in February.
"We appreciate the extra landscaping, because that is a pretty area," said Chairwoman Jean Garniewicz. "That is a beautiful building. I think it'll look very nice in that area."
Riverwood Town Center is located on Washington Road at William Few Parkway and is part of a 2,200-acre mixed-use development, including a subdivision.
Also at the meeting, planning commissioners rezoned 176 acres on Shoffitt Road from single-family residential to special district. Steed's Dairy Farm has been operating on the property off Wrightsboro Road since 1946.
The rezoning will allow agricultural entertainment to be developed in three phases. The proposed uses include a corn maze, hay rides, petting barn, farmers market, campgrounds and a creamery.
"I think it's a tremendous use of the property," said planning commissioner Jim Cox.
The planning and zoning board also rezoned two parcels at 482 and 484 Furys Ferry Road to planned development district, allowing a residence and boutique on the property.
In addition, a preliminary plat for Briarcliff, a 15.4-acre planned unit development off South Old Belair Road was approved. Planning commissioners also granted a design variance for about 1.5 acres at 4108 Colben Boulevard, which is located inside the Evans Town Center Overlay District. The variance permits the property owner to build a chain-link fence for a dog-agility course.
The board also approved a text amendment regulating the buffer requirements on developments adjacent to properties in a different zoning district. The main change to the ordinance is that both side and rear buffers will require the same width regulation.
The amendment makes language in the ordinance easier to understand, Planning Manager Nayna Mistry said.
icon.