Planning Commission forwards multiple rezoning, site‑plan and variance recommendations to Board; approvals include Rabbit Run plat, church expansions and lake‑c

The Planning Commission reviewed a full docket of rezoning, site‑plan and variance requests and voted to recommend approval on multiple items and to postpone one request for further revisions.

Key votes and recommendations

- Rabbit Run preliminary plat (Cobham Road): Staff recommended approval of a preliminary plat for 22 single‑family lots in RA zoning; the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. The report lists minimum lot size 2.5 acres and an average lot size of about 5.41 acres.

- Change of conditions at 7013 Evanstown Center Boulevard (massage therapy): Staff recommended removing a 2020 condition limiting massage therapy to Suite 201 so a second massage‑therapy tenant could operate at the site; the commission voted unanimously to approve the change of conditions.

- Major S‑1 revision for athletic fields at 4517 Columbia Road: Staff described an on‑site reversal of the original concept plan and recommended approval with conditions focused on fire/emergency access, paved access drives, and phased parking. Commissioners modified conditions to permit paving of parking and bus access in phase 2 and recommended approval unanimously.

- Major S‑1 revision for Augusta Sailing Club (5462 Sailing Road): The club requested a reduced setback (4 feet) for cabins adjacent to the lake. Staff recommended approval with conditions and the club agreed to apply reduced setbacks to the entire property; the commission recommended approval unanimously.

- Major S‑1 revision for Promise Church expansion (3432 Gordon Highway): Staff recommended approval with conditions addressing buffering and parking. Pastor Jeremy Mills described growing membership and said the church would implement carpooling and other measures; the commission recommended approval unanimously.

- Variance VA24‑11‑01 (5607 Washington Road): Staff recommended a variance to reduce the front setback after a house rebuild created nonconformity due to later road/right‑of‑way changes; the commission voted to recommend approval with conditions.

- Postponement: A major S‑1 revision for Clark Grove Baptist Church (33592 Evans Locks Road) was postponed to December 19 to allow the applicant to provide revised engineered drawings addressing fire access and site constraints.

All motions that carried were unanimous according to the transcript’s record of "all in favor" and "motion carries unanimously." These recommendations are advisory and will be considered for final action by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. Members of the public who want to speak at that hearing were directed to contact Ms. Staller for a request‑to‑speak form.