Inactive landfill could be turned to recreation area

A former landfill off Baker Place Road could have another use in the future.

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The Columbia County Planning Commission initiated a rezoning for the 171-acre parcel Thursday at the request of the county's planning staff.

"This is an inactive landfill, which is really not being used for anything right now," county planner Dave Van De Weghe said. "The county is looking at maybe putting some active recreation facilities on the site to put this property to use."

The landfill closed in 2006 after nearing its capacity level.

Further details on the possible site plan will be released at a future planning commission meeting, Van De Weghe said.

If approved, the property would be rezoned from residential-agricultural and light industrial to special district.

Also at the meeting, board members initiated a second rezoning of about 11 acres within the Highgrove at Williamsburg subdivision.

The minimum front building setback for 19 lots is incorrectly identified as 40 feet on the official property plat, and developers purchased the property believing the setback information was correct.

To mend the situation, planning staff asked the zoning board to initiate a medium-density residential zoning. The minimum front building setback requirements would change from 50 to 40 feet.

In other business, planning commissioners shot down a rezoning request 4-1 for property on Washington Road that was previously rejected by the planning and zoning board.

Planning commissioners rejected the rezoning of more than 3 acres at 4515 and 4521 Washington Road in Evans from single-family residential to general commercial.

Planning staff advised the board that the property is outside the Evans Town Center node, where commercial development is urged.

Van De Weghe also contended the property is usable under its current zoning. The rezoning applicant did not attend the meeting.