Tuesday’s controversial zoning amendment in Columbia County’s most upscale neighborhood remained intact. This means that a defunct course of golf is still without its original clubhouse.
Many Jones Creek residents packed the gallery at Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting, upset that their appeal to halt zoning changes at 777 Jones Creek Dr. was denied.
In September 2018, Jones Creek Golf Course was closed. The course’s clubhouse, along with the adjacent parking lot, were purchased in 2019 by Mark Herbert’s MBH Holdings. While the course was still without a new owner and falling into disuse, it was later foreclosed.
Herbert initially filed a request to the county to change its zoning designation from Planned Unit Development (S-1) so that it can only be used as an “event, hospitality, and meeting space; catering space, and kitchen space.” The building was not legal to be operated as a golf course.
Jones Creek residents were outraged at the request. They wanted to see the course renovated. The Jones Creek Homeowners Association has previously stated that any plans to revive the golf course must include the centrally-located clubhouse.
Recently, Bond Golf Global, a golf event management company, opened Jones Creek’s driving track beginning Masters Week. The long-term goal is to resurrect the entire course.
Herbert submitted a second rezoning request. It was not a request for a change to the S-1 zoning, but a request for minor changes to the Planned Unit Development (or PUD) conditions. The new request was not legally approved by Columbia County Board of Commissioners. It was only approved by the Planning Commission of the county, which is appointed and not elected by voters.
The new request requested that the building’s hours of operation be changed from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. seven day a week and that trash pickup be prohibited between 11 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Hammad Sheikh, an attorney and Jones Creek resident, said that the changes are not what is bothering his neighbors. It’s what’s going to stay the same. Minor revisions to the proposal for the future use of the property are kept in place.
He said, “That’s not the purpose of the clubhouse. It is used for other purposes and is necessary for that.” “The clubhouse is part a planned unit development as everyone knows.”
Tripp Nanney is the president of Jones Creek Homeowners Association. He said that he appealed to commissioners for “579 homeowners” and about 1,200 Columbia County voters.
He stated that allowing the zoning changes to stand would create an open loophole as large as a house. The zoning change would leave the property of the golf course vulnerable to development if it is not able to regain its clubhouse.
“Is there a Columbia County residential area that has both a hospitality house as well as a full-time restaurant in its middle? Nanney stated that she doesn’t believe so. “This model is not a good fit for our residents and sets a dangerous precedent.”
On behalf of Jones Creek residents, Attorney Wendell Johnston stated that he believes the clubhouse’s Public Use Document (PUD) “has never been modified appropriately,” and also pointed out that the county’s “minor revising” process is illegal. He stated that the county does not require public notice, a public hearing, or a Board of Commissioners vote. This allows applicants to avoid considerable public scrutiny.
He stated that if you want to change the PUD but don’t have the procedures in place, then you are violating the Columbia County code as well as the state law.
Connie Melear (District 1 Commissioner), whose district includes Jones Creek filed a motion to reverse the approval of the clubhouse zone rezoning by the planning commission. The motion was defeated by no one, and it was not put to a vote.
By: Joe Hotchkiss
Title: Augusta-area golf course, clubhouse stay separate after rezoning is upheld
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/03/23/jones-creek-golf-course-clubhouse-rezoning/
Published Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:00:52 +0000
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