Evans and Martinez might be among the most well-known community names in Columbia County, but a lesser known area, Lewiston, eventually could join the spotlight.

"There is tremendous potential at that intersection on both sides of Interstate 20, and that's why we want to have a master plan that we don't just let things be done hodge-podge because it is a gateway to the county," county commission Chairman Ron Cross said.

Commissioners recently approved as much as $100,000 for a master plan study of an 1,800-acre area surrounding the Lewiston Road/I-20 intersection, which is halfway between Columbia Road in Appling and Wrightsboro Road in Grovetown. The plan will examine proper land uses for the area and look at whether some of the undeveloped land might be suitable for a possible arena, sporting complex, convention center or retail center.

Officials have said an arena site likely would require about 100 acres.

"The idea is to put some conditions on it (the 1,800 acres) so once it starts developing it will be an attractive development and encourage other people to come out there," Mr. Cross said. "We want the master plan to get a land-use plan to show how much should be commercial, how much should be professional and then probably put some design standards on it."

Mr. Cross said only a few own the land in question.

"We're trying to work with the landowners, and we've met with them to hopefully convince them that it's to their benefit to support this, to keep somebody from devaluing the land by putting up a piece of junk," he said.

Blanchard and Calhoun Commercial is one of the area's land owners and has big plans for the 50 acres it will develop.

"Our interest there at this time is to do a commercial PUD (Planned Unit Development), which would encompass us doing some retail, restaurants and possibly hotels," said Mark Senn, of Blanchard and Calhoun. "If you just look at the growth of the Grovetown area and out Chamblin Road and Bartram Trail and that whole area in Columbia County ... it's destined to have some good things happen at that interchange."

Because an arena site is being examined with the Lewiston area, Mr. Cross said the study will coincide with the county's recently approved arena feasibility study, which was approved for as much as $75,000.

"We're making an assumption that the consultants are going to agree that that's a good location for an arena," Mr. Cross said of Lewiston. "You would think it would be with the interstate connection, but they may say, 'Well, it's not the best.' So that's why we're having the study. And in conjunction with the arena study, it should tell us a great deal about what the future will hold."

Mr. Cross said one thing is for certain about the Lewiston area.

"It's got a lot of importance to it," he said.