Augusta Commissioners will discuss development projects, consultants and lobbyists at the Tuesday, Nov. 16 meeting.
Commissioners will vote on the execution of the Intergovernmental Service Agreement between the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority and the city of Augusta. The agreement is for $45,000 to engage a consultant to provide a comprehensive plan for allocating federal funds for the area.
The consultant is to be tasked with finding alternative funding for a new James Brown Arena after Richmond County voters overwhelmingly voted against a property tax increase to pay for the new arena.
MORE: Coliseum Authority Regroups After Arena Bond Referendum Voted Down
Commissioners will also entertain a motion by District 9 Commissioner Francine Scott to reappoint the members of the Coliseum Authority as several members’ terms have expired. Members can continue to serve after their terms end unless they are replaced.
Commissioners will also discuss whether to hire a lobbyist to represent the city of Augusta at the next session of the Georgia General Assembly.
Generally speaking, a local legislative delegation acts as the lobbyist for the region from which members are elected, but more and more cities are turning to independent lobbyists to represent them, especially in matters like the recent judicial split that created the Columbia County Judicial Circuit.
The agenda item, placed by District 6 commissioner Ben Hasan, specifically requests the position be filled “as soon as possible.” The next General Assembly session is set to begin in early January 2022.
Commissioners will also take up several matters pertaining to development and code compliance.
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On Nov. 1, roughly 70 residents from the Foxhall, Montclair and Ravenwood subdivisions attended a meeting of the Augusta Planning Commission to oppose a new townhome development on Pleasant Home Road near the intersection of Davis Road. After hearing from both sides, the commission voted against the development plans.
The Planning Commission voted 6 – 4 to turn down the rezoning request by the Ivey Group, a local development company. The group asked for an 18.86-acre parcel adjacent to the three nearby neighborhoods to be rezoned to allow for a 191-unit townhome complex to be built.
Currently, the property is zoned for single-family home dwellings only and the Augusta Commission is likely to keep the current zoning in place.
On the consent agenda is a motion to approve the recommendation of the Augusta Planning Commission to rezone a four acre parcel of land owned by First Baptist Church to allow for the building of an upscale retirement community.
The three story facility will house 132 units and will include a memory care wing. Plans call for the inclusion of a theater, salon and wellness center. Access to the facility will be through the First Baptist Church parking lot, as well as a planned access road linked to Jackson Road.
If the measure passes, the church will sell the land to Second Fifty Communities, headquartered out of Charleston, who will own and operate the facility.
MORE: Troubled South Augusta Apartment Complex To Remain Open For Now
Augusta commissioners will also hear an update on Azalea Place Apartments, located at 1814 Fayetteville Dr., which has faced several serious code violations over the years including rat infestations and flooding issues.
The apartment complex has until Dec. 31 to bring the buildings up to code or face losing its business license. A probationary period that ended on Oct. 31 has been extended until Dec. 31; however, the commission instructed the Planning Department to provide bi-weekly reports on the progress.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
