Call To Order: 6 pm
Approval of 8/18/2026 Meeting and executive session minutes: Yay 5, No 0
Consent Agenda: Yay 5, No 0
Community and Emergency Services Committee Commissioner Steed
(H1a) Animal Services Donations
(H1b) Christmas Lighting Services Agreement with Megah, LLC.
Public Works and Engineering Services Committee Commissioner Carraway
(H2a) Purchase from MHC Kenworth a Bucket Truck for Traffic Engineering
(H2b) Purchase from Pearson Peterbilt a 567 Dump Truck for Stormwater
(H2c) Purchase from Alan Jay Fleet Sales Two Chevrolet Tahoes for the Fire Department
(H2d) Change Order Number One with PF Moon and Company for the Clarks Hill WTP Hypochlorite System Improvements project
(H2e) Purchase of a 140HP Influent Pump from Xylem Water Solutions, USA., Inc. for the Little River Plant Pump #6
(H2f) Awarding 2026025-RFP5105 to Denali Water Solutions, LLC for the Water Treatment Residuals Removal and Disposal Project
(H2g) Purchase of a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrophotometer from Fisher Scientific Company
(H2h) AT&T Encroachment Agreement at Parcel 042 156M for the Euchee Creek Harlem Interceptor Project
(H2i) Resolution 26-18 Concerning a Determination to Abandon and Sell a Portion of Morris Callaway Road
(H2j) Resolution 26-19 and Project Delivery Agreement (IGTIA2700551) with GDOT for the Construction of the Hereford Farm Rd Widening Project, PI 0012865
(H2k) Contract #2026-3683 with East Coast Grading, Inc. for Building B & C Parking Lot Repairs/Overlay and Striping
(H2l) Facility Use Agreement with UGA Extension / 4-H for the Trap Shooting Program at the Baker Place Road Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
(H2m) Acceptance of Improvements at Wrights Farm Section 4B Lots 214-284
Debate Agenda
Unfinished Business
Development and Planning Services Committee
(I1a1) RZ26-08-02, Rezoning from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to S-1 (Special), 250 Legion Drive, Tax Map 079 Parcel 122A, 2.5 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). - tabled from August 18, 2026 (Glamping site) Deny: Yay 5, No 0
Melear: Unfinished business from the previous commission meeting. Commissioners had questions then and gave the applicant time to come back with answers. She asked staff whether they had been able to work with the applicant and get those questions answered.
Schlachter: Applicant was provided questions, but neither he nor staff received a response.
Melear: She received a packet from another source and reviewed it that day. She asked the other commissioners whether they have any remaining questions or concerns based on the information they received, and there weren’t.
(I1a2) RZ26-08-04, Rezoning from R-3 (Single Family Residential) to PRD (Planned Residential Development), 325 McCormick Road, Tax Map 077B Parcel 114, 14.1 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential) -tabled from August 18, 2026. Approve: Yay 3 (Melear, Steed, Duncan) No 2 (Carraway, Couch)
Schlachter: 107 townhome units, concentrated toward the center of the property. 40-ft buffer around the site, including a fence. Lots approximately 24 ft wide × 90 ft deep. 20-foot front setbacks. Townhomes intended to have two-car garages. Additional off-street parking. Amenities include pickleball, cornhole and walking areas., 25-ft buffer along McCormick Road, with permanent plantings on berms. Gated Community.
Melear: The proposed development looks nice. Asked what could be built there, without the Commission having another opportunity to approve it.
Schlachter: R-3 is the smallest residential lot zoning Columbia County has, and the county no longer approves new R-3 zoning, although existing R-3 remains valid. Under the property’s current R-3 zoning, staff estimates the owner could build approximately 46–47 single-family lots without this rezoning. Differences: No required buffer, meaning houses could be built immediately adjacent to existing residential properties. No additional design standards imposed through this PRD. No required amenities. The alternative is about 46–47 homes on the smallest residential lots permitted by county code.
New Business
Management and Internal Services Committee
(I2a1) Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Economic Development Services and Project Related Infrastructure with the Development Authority Approve Yay 5, No 0
Johnson: The agreement establishes compensation the Development Authority will pay the county for economic-development services and project-related infrastructure. Revenue will cover development costs, freeing up county funds that can be directed to HB 439 homestead tax relief if voters approve the measure in November. County intends to establish the relief fund this year and fully fund it going forward.
Development and Planning Service Committee
(I2b1) VA26-08-07, Variance to Section 90-53 List of lot and structure requirements, 266 Fairfax Street, Tax Map 078F Parcel 063, 0.26 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential). Disapprove: Yay 4, No 1 (Couch)
Schlachter: Accessory building already under construction without permits and did not meet required side/rear setbacks. Staff and Planning Commission recommended denial. Applicant subsequently proposed modifying the building to increase the side setback to 9'2". Several neighbors spoke in opposition at Planning Commission.
(I2b2) RZ26-08-06, Conditional Use for Therapeutic Massage, 119 North Belair Road, Tax Map 073C Parcel 092, 0.44 +/- acres, and currently zoned P-1 (Professional). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Request for conditional use to operate therapeutic massage business in existing building, with two licensed massage therapists. Proposed hours 9 a.m.–7 p.m., seven days a week.
(I2b3) RZ26-08-07, Rezoning from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to P-1 (Professional), 165 South Belair Road, Tax Map 073B Parcel 001, 0.55 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Rezone from R-2 to P-1 for professional office/real-estate-related business at corner of South Belair Road and Oakley Pirkle Road. Existing building predates current road configuration and does not meet current setbacks. Conditions included abandoning the septic system and connecting to county sewer, removing existing sheds, and relocating the driveway farther from the intersection for traffic safety. No neighbors spoke for or against the request.
(I2b4) VA26-08-08, Variance to Sections 90-98 List of lot & structure requirements and 90-139 Buffers & screening, 165 South Belair Road, Tax Map 073B Parcel 001, 0.55 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Companion variance to reduce setbacks (previous) for existing building and allow drainage improvements within residential buffer to prevent stormwater runoff onto neighboring property. Also allows driveway to be relocated farther from the intersection for safety.
(I2b5) RZ26-08-08, Major PUD (Planned Unit Development) Revision, 779 Bishops Circle, Tax Map 065 Parcel 554, 0.30 +/- acres, and currently zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development).Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Request to allow an ancillary dwelling on property with a 5-ft rear setback and a max 2,200 sq ft under roof. Current design includes 510 sq. ft. of living space and 472 sq. ft. of storage, with a loft that could increase the usable space. Part of the driveway crosses HOA-owned property, which owner has an agreement to use and maintain.
Public Comments
Susan Warren: Responded to Scott Johnson’s recent podcast on data centers. Agreed the early process was too quiet and argued residents should have been informed earlier about the scale and location of planned development. Said citizen involvement ultimately resulted in a stronger data center ordinance. Also criticized rezoning signage and pushed back on Johnson’s comments about political polarization, saying her positions don't fit neatly into a political party.
Carraway: County was already developing the data center ordinance when S-1 rezoning occurred and purchaser knew additional regulations were coming. Scott Johnson confirmed the ordinance was being developed throughout that period.
Couch: Responded to Warren’s concerns about notice, noting the county met legal advertising requirements (signage and ad with Augusta Chronicle), posted the rezoning on its website, and that she personally posted about the rezoning on her political Facebook page to inform District 4 residents.
Duncan: Followed up on Warren’s signage criticism and asked staff about possible changes. Mentioned Lindsey Brantley’s recommendation of changing signs. After discussion of adding hearing dates to rezoning signs, Duncan asked staff to bring options back to next committee meeting.
Howard Johnson: Raised concerns about Flock/automatic license plate reader cameras and privacy, noting he passes 4 cameras during his 3.5-mile drive to commission meetings. Asked the county to consider an ordinance limiting camera placement, data collection and storage, arguing that AI increasingly makes it possible to analyze and track individuals across massive datasets. He also tied the issue to data centers, arguing that collecting and analyzing so much data contributes to the demand for more data-center capacity.
Steed: Asked whether Johnson had researched how often the systems are audited. Johnson said he had and believed inadequate auditing was a concern, but said his larger objection was the amount of data being collected and the potential for abuse regardless of safeguards.
Lee Muns: Called for greater public involvement and financial transparency around the data center projects, arguing residents were brought into the process too late and ultimately helped improve the ordinance. Questioned financial claims surrounding $17 billion investment and asked the county to provide a side-by-side comparison of ordinary taxes versus exemptions, abatements and negotiated fees before voters consider tax relief in November. Said many of the financial agreements and figures are not yet finalized.
Executive Session
Property
(M1a) Property A: Donation of portions of 2 Canterbury Farms Association parcels for right-of-way and temporary easements needed for the Horizon South Parkway/Chamblin Road Connector project. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
(M1b) Property B: Purchase of 97-acre parcel from Pollard Land Company, Inc. for $3,915,600. Property adjoins 75 acres the county purchased for new park south of I-20. County tried unsuccessfully to acquire this additional property several years ago and plans to combine the two parcels. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
(M1c) Property C: Purchase of approximately 22 acres from Keith Allen Pollard for $484,000. Property off Hwy 221, backs up to County Camp Rd, and adjacent to existing Appling campus. Additional land will provide room to expand Roads & Bridges operations and other county facilities, including a future fire training facility. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Adjourn: 6:42pm