A popular Columbia County attraction is a go for this winter.  Lights of the South will be in operation following months of Planning and Zoning Commissioners calling for owner Benjamin Bell to make changes. 

Bell has spent most of this year waiting to tell his supporters one thing.

“Merry Christmas!”

The Lights of the South owner attempted a peaceful protest of hundreds of people to rally against zoning restrictions requiring him to make several changes, such as pave two parking lots utilized by customers.

He said non-compliance would have put a stop to citizens being able to see the more than five million lights on display he puts on every year. 

“We knew we couldn’t afford $500,000 to $600,000 to pave those gravel parking lots.  Up until March 31, that was a requirement.  They were going to deny you period.  They had to because they denied everyone else,” said Bell, who had about a dozen or so supporters in attendance.

Commissioner Doug Duncan said there were errors that needed to be corrected in the rezoning process. 

“This was all communication.  This was all poor communication,” he said.  “The county zoning required that, but back in March the Commission gave the planning director the authority to make those changes.  You shouldn’t have to apply for a variance to not pave a parking lot.”

Commissioners approved the zoning request with stipulations, which Bell said includes having a grease interceptor pumped in his kitchen, providing new site plans and completing electrical inspections with Georgia Power.   All of this is good news for Bell who was worried about digging deep into his wallet to bring the holiday attraction back.

“I was assured that if I met those other little six conditions the county would not make me pay for those parking lots,” he explained.

While Bell counts this as a victory, some citizens still say Lights of the South is a traffic hazard.

Sheila Hall has spoken against the traffic at the annual holiday attraction at several public meetings.

“Cars are backed up past Wrightsboro Road and with no I-20 access, a traffic impasse is created where Nature’s Way meets Lousiville Road,” she told the board.

Bell also addressed Scuttle’s Island Water Park.  That rezoning application was withdrawn.  He plans to build it somewhere else and he says that announcement will coming in another month.