Citizens came out in force to the Augusta Planning Commission’s April meeting, Wednesday afternoon, to contend with a south Augusta townhome project.
Southern Civil Solutions and Spartanburg, S.C. company Property Developers LLC had petitioned to rezone more than 10 undeveloped tracts, totaling about 41 acres, along Gibson Road, Tate Road and Winn Drive, from R-1A to R-1E One-family Residential to build 319 townhome lots.
The attached units would have lot widths of 26 to 41 feet, an overall density of 7.7 acres per unit. The development would have 10.59 acres of open space, public streets, guest parking spaces, a clubhouse and pool, a mail kiosk, three detention ponds and six entrances and exits.
A second, accompanying rezoning request sought to rezone 1.45 acres at 3301 and 3303 Gibson Road from R-1A to Neighborhood Business (B-1) to make way for an office complex.
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Some 16 people attended the meeting to oppose the requests, among them former District 5 Commissioner Bobby Williams, who told the planning commissioners about a meeting held Monday between the developers and neighboring residents and property owners.
“I’m not saying that we’re for it, I’m not saying that we’re against it,” said Williams to the commissioners, underscoring that the previous day’s meeting yielded insufficient information about the proposed development. “We just want a little time. If you could give us a couple of weeks, bring this back. Let us sit down… talk with the developers and have a more extensive conversation, rather than what we had yesterday.”
Several others spoke before the planning commissioners citing other concerns, ranging from traffic issues and narrow roads, to impact on wildlife to a potential increase in crime.
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Gary Bennett of Southern Civil Solutions told commissioners that he and Vinesh Danak of Property Developers were prepared to make roadway improvements and the required sewer extension.
Planning director Carla Delaney, noting the engineering department’s response to the request, recommended postponing the request, as the development’s current plans don’t meet the city’s road system standards. Delaney also said that the applicants should return with an outline of the project’s proposed interior road system, and to address roads that have “significantly acute angles.”
The commissioners voted unanimously to postpone the request to the Planning Commission’s May meeting.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
