A local plant nursery and event venue got good news, Monday afternoon, after the Augusta Planning Commission recommended approval for a petition that would allow its expansion.
David Harden requested to rezone his two parcels at 1813 and 1815 Kissingbower Road, from One-family Residential (R-1E) and General Business (B-2) to B-2 zoning alone.
The property is the site of Back to Nature Garden Center, a plant market that has also been operating as a bistro, event space, campsite and petting zoo.
Development services manager Kevin Boyd explained to planning commissioners that the B-2 portion of the property had been rezoned from R-1E in 2018, to make way for the establishment of the garden center, one of its conditions being that its only approved use be as a nursery. In January, after Code Enforcement opened a case on the property that’s still pending, the city required the garden center to shut down all operations except as a plant nursery.
Both Harden and Boyd noted to the commissioners that Harden was unaware that the other uses of the property required another rezoning, and is seeking through the petition to expand those permitted uses.
MORE: Pre-K Lottery registration now open for Richmond County schools
“We really wanted to create a community space where people don’t have to spend money to go out and do something,” Harden said. “But if they wanted to spend more time, of course, we have plants for purchase, we have fresh food for purchase, we have all of these options available for everyone.”
Boyd noted that petition in support of Back to Nature garnered 60 signatures, along with 33 emails advocating for the rezoning request—Harden would later say those numbers have increased to 89 and 42, respectively.
The animals on the property, Harden explained, include two mini pig rescues, two Nigerian dwarf goats, chickens and ducks, all with their own fencing. Visitors are not charged to observe the animals.
Planning Commissioner Donnie Smith asked whether the campsite is a long-term rental or homeless shelter operation. Harden said that the campground would only be for brief stays in tents in the property’s forested area, for one or two days, for $15.
MORE: Residents of local neighborhood come together to battle brush fire
Smith also asked if Harden had sought the proper permits to have animals on the property. While Harden said he was willing to get any permit required, planning director Carla Delaney noted to Smith that chickens and ducks don’t count as livestock under the city’s ordinance, and that the property has the acreage to accommodate the other animals as required by the city.
All commissioners voted in favor of the rezoning request, save for Smith, who voted to oppose.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
