North Augusta council members were briefed on the revival of a large-scale development planned within the city, this one near the Palmetto Parkway.
Known as Highland Springs, it was proposed in 2018 but later stalled. It was planned for more than 1,400 acres near North Augusta Fire Station 3 on Belvedere-Clearwater Road. The original plan called for upwards of 1,000 new residences.
The city Planning Commission has received a request for a sketch plan review from Auro Divine Development, LLC of Greenville, S.C. County tax records list the new owner of the property as Monterey Development LLC of Danville, Va. The tract is bounded by Old Sudlow Lake Road, Belvedere-Clearwater Road, Ascauga Lake Road and S.C. Interstate-520.
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Tommy Paradise, director of the Department of Planning and Development, said it will be on the March 16 planning commission agenda.
“That would give the developers an opportunity to get an idea of what the planning commission thinks about the changes they want to make in that development, and help them in their due diligence, making the decision whether to pull the trigger or not,” he said.
The original plan called for two new schools to be included in the development. Although the development stalled, the school district decided to move forward with the plans for Highland Springs Elementary and Middle Schools, which were included in the $90 million dollar bond referendum voters approved in 2018.
The details were announced in a school district news release following the referendum’s approval: “The growth in two areas of the county (North Augusta and Midland Valley) has substantially exceeded projections. With growth comes students and families to schools already at or near capacity. The school district has been donated land between Graniteville and North Augusta in the area being developed as Highland Springs and will construct a new elementary and a new middle school there. Each will have the capacity for 700 students.”
North Augusta rezoned land for the schools during a May 18, 2021 meeting.
During the Monday night study session, City Administrator Jim Clifford said the schools are on the southern end of the property.
“We don’t want to see the schools being fully built without having a development there,” he said. “That’s going to cause long term zoning issues with where the kids are going to school. So, we’d like to be able to start that right from the jump of having the right kids go into the right schools, without having to move people around. So, it’s in the city’s best interest, I think long-term for the parents as well, for us to be able to move forward on these projects.”
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Construction costs for the schools were originally $32 million. However, at the April 20, 2021 board meeting, the cost was increased to $39.7 million, and it was approved by the board.
District spokesman Mike Rosier said crews have begun clearing the land and preparing to begin construction.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
