Planning commission: 2025 saw fewer rezoning approvals and a dip in new residential permits

Danielle, a planning staff member, presented the Columbia County Planning Commission’s 2025 year-end review and multifamily report on Feb. 5. "This is our annual, year end review and multifamily report," she said, noting the commission handled fewer rezoning and variance requests than in recent years.

The report showed 73% of rezoning requests were approved in 2025, 12% were disapproved, 13% were withdrawn and one was postponed. "Compared to other years, we did approve fewer requests," Danielle said, placing 2025 below the prior three-year trend of roughly 78–80% approvals.

Danielle summarized residential land‑use activity: the commission reviewed three conceptual plans for 132 lots, approved preliminary plats for 609 lots and final plats for 404 lots. On permitting, staff issued 506 single‑family building permits and 54 permits for townhomes, totaling about 560 residential units in 2025, with roughly 90% of permits for single‑family homes.

On variances and administrative permits, Danielle told commissioners the department processed 216 sign permit applications, issued 48 zoning verification letters, authorized 16 temporary uses and granted 9 provisional home‑occupation permits. She said multifamily work was limited, noting one rezoning for apartments off Washington Road was disapproved and that a design recognition for the Burroughs Elijah attorney’s office (completed in 2024) was processed in 2025.

The commission did not take final actions on the report; the chairman reminded attendees that commission recommendations, including those on rezoning, will be forwarded to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners for final action on Feb. 17, 2026.