Residents of the Rollins area neighborhood came out to oppose petitions for a rezoning and a special exception to establish a boarding house, Monday afternoon, at the Augusta Planning Commission’s February meeting, with the board ultimately voting to deny.
Charlotte Garnes applied to rezone her property at 3202 Rushing Road from One-family to Multi-family Residential, as well as for the special exception. Garnes is the founder of ReNforce, a non-profit specializing in helping women who have been incarcerated return to the workforce.
One of the organization’s efforts is Redemption House, a program that provides housing to women who have been through the criminal justice system, along with other supports such as mental health counseling and skill development.
Garnes plans to establish a group home with this model at the Rushing Road property, where six women — five clients and one house manager — would reside in a house some 2,700 square feet.
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Juanita Burney, former president of the Rollins Area Neighborhood Association, spoke on behalf of several homeowners along Rushing Road against Garnes’ requests. While issues came up included increased traffic and the number of women living in the proposed boarding house, residents’ key concern was that Garnes had not communicated her intentions with the neighborhood, despite having purchased the home last year.
“We don’t want to be close-minded, but we do feel like we need more information,” said Burney. “One of the things that continue to say to those that want to come into our neighborhood… is that you need to partner with the community, and you need to do it in advance, if not after the fact.”
Garnes told the commissioners that she hosted an open house for the community to explain her plans, which she promoted through flyers and social media. Burney acknowledged this, mentioning that she attended the open house, but that the open house was only this past weekend.
Another neighbor, Lee Meyers, spoke in support of the requests, saying that Garnes and her team had been “very forthcoming” about the boarding house plans.
Commissioners Douglas Prince, James O’Neal, Trisha Mallis, Donnie Smith, Stephanie Clark and Zelwin Davis voted to recommend denial, while Commissioners Michael Owens and George Locke McKnight voted against denial.
Vice Chair Jeffery Pooser and Commissioner Debra Spencer abstained.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
