Planning Commission postpones church site plan, approves provisional home occupations and multiple variances

The Columbia County Planning Commission on Sept. 3 postponed a major site‑plan decision for Clark Road Baptist Church and approved a series of routine and contested items including provisional home occupations, a PUD signage revision, and multiple variances and change‑of‑condition requests.

Staff presented the Clark Road Baptist Church major S‑1 site‑plan revision for 3592 Evans To Locks Road and said technical issues remain — notably parking, fire access and the need for a complete survey and engineering review — and recommended postponement. Pastor Marcella Glover, speaking for Clark Road Baptist Church, said the congregation has been working to address staff comments and requested more time to complete survey and engineering submittals; an unidentified commissioner moved to postpone the matter to Nov. 7 and the motion carried unanimously.

The commission approved provisional home occupations: Dig South (2304 William Pew Parkway) to store limited site‑work equipment offsite with screening, and Hannah’s Closet (3306 Tom Bartels Road), a small‑scale laser‑engraving and gift business operating from an accessory building. Staff recommended both approvals based on limited onsite impacts and compliance with provisional home‑occupation limits.

The commission also recommended approval of a major PUD revision for canopy signage at a gas station in the Riverwood PUD (1595/5095 Washington Road) after the applicant’s representative, Collins Corbett, argued larger canopy signs were needed to ensure visibility and safety. Staff had recommended disapproval of larger canopy signs based on code allowances and visibility concerns, but the commission moved to recommend approval.

Other actions included: recommending removal of many conditions on a P1 property at 601 Ponder Place Drive to allow subdivision into smaller office parcels (while retaining a monument‑sign requirement); recommending a variance to remove maximum front setbacks for portions of that site where geometry/topography make the code standard impractical; approving a PRD plan revision to reduce a front building setback from 25 to 22 feet at 2226 Southland Drive after a builder representative apologized for an as‑built porch discrepancy and described new survey checks; and recommending a variance to remove a structural fence element at 4400 Riverwatch Parkway while confirming that planted 20‑ and 40‑foot buffers and a state‑mapped creek would remain in place.

Commissioners closed the meeting with no outstanding legal matters and adjourned by unanimous voice vote. Several motions carried by voice vote; where final action is required the commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final decisions.