Proposed gas station, Euchee Creek trail improvements on Columbia County commission agenda

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – A bigger agenda item at the Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday night is a rezoning and variance request for 3-acres of a 360-acre parcel of land at the intersection of William Few Parkway and Columbia Road.

Developers want it to go from residential to commercial so they can put in a 24-hour gas station with reduced buffers across the street from the Columbia County fairgrounds.

“I think it’s a good idea, I mean it’d be convenient for a lot of the residents here, it’ll be an ideal spot as well. So I’m all for it,” said Leroy Linen, who lives nearby.

This time last year, developers were trying to get this same piece of land rezoned for a Circle K gas station, but it was denied by commissioners.

And although the county’s planning commission is recommending disapproval again for Tuesday’s meeting, people we spoke to are all for it this go-around.

“Columbia County, Grovetown if you will, is growing. I mean the gas station is not gonna be that one factor that all of a sudden we can’t get around,” Linen said. “It’s just we’re growing in this area right here, and I think because of that that gas station would be a plus.”

“I think it would be a good idea because a lot of times whenever I’m coming home, I’ve got to go back into town or go back down Columbia Road to get gas,” said Bill Price. “I think it’d be a good idea.”

Another thing going before the Board is a $21,000 design contract for the final phases of the Euchee Creek Greenway Improvement Project.

Paid for by the Transportation Investment Act, it’s to finish paving 10-ft wide paths on remaining parts of the trail.

“We just moved here a couple years ago, so we only just found this area and I love it. I think they’ve done great with it,” said trail-walker Kaidee Riddell. “A lot of people use these trails and stuff so expanding on it or doing any kind of construction on it would actually benefit.”

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Evans Government Center auditorium.

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