The Augusta Planning Commission voted down a proposed townhome development off Stevens Creek Road in its monthly meeting Monday afternoon.
Debbie and Danny Bourne had petitioned to rezone five acres along 2715 Mayo Road, about 300 feet southwest of the intersection of Mayo and Stevens Creek Roads, from R-1A to R-1E single-family residential with intention of building 36 attached townhome units.
The planning staff recommended denial of the request, saying in its report that the concept plan for the townhomes is not compatible with the pattern of mostly single-family detached homes in the area.
The Bournes, however, presented aerial photos of the surrounding area to the commissioners, underscoring that there are already three other townhome subdivisions within a mile from the subject property.
“We’re not looking to put cheap property up here,” said Debbie Bourne to the commissioners, noting that she and her husband’s intention in developing the parcel was to offer housing to young professionals who work close to downtown. “We’re looking for these to be an upscale property.”
The staff report mentioned that residents of the area had called the planning department to object to the proposed project. James and Jennifer Leisey, a couple residing in the nearby Brookfield Park neighborhood, were among several area residents who attended the meeting, bringing with them a petition signed by 168 of their neighbors opposing the rezoning request.
The Leiseys cited current traffic congestion along both Stevens Creek Road and Mayo Road, and potential dangers to children in the area if that traffic were increased after the townhomes were developed, among their chief concerns.
“We do have some smaller townhomes at the end of Mayo Road, but that’s only four units, not 36 units,” said Jennifer Leisey to the commissioners. “So we feel like this would be a huge influx of people and traffic right there trying to get out on Stevens Creek.”
Other residents named issues such as the development’s impact on flooding and affordability of the housing.
When Commissioner Jeffrey Pooser asked the applicants whether they had conferred with area residents about the development, Debra Bourne said no one had contacted them save for a woman who claimed there may be homeless people squatting on the parcels. Jennifer Leisey said the Bournes had not tried to contact any of the neighbors.
Pooser also asked if the Bournes would consider building fewer units in the development, to which Danny Bourne replied that fewer townhomes would prove prohibitive considering the expense of roadwork, utility work and the installation of lift stations.
All of the commissioners present, save for Commissioner Robert Cooks, who abstained, voted to recommend denial of the rezoning request.
The Planning Commission also voted in favor of a retail plaza project in west Augusta. Saurin Patel, on behalf of CSRA Capital Holdings, petitioned to rezone a one-acre property stretching along E. Robinson Ave., a portion into Columbia County, from Agricultural to General Business with the aim of building a 13,000 square foot shopping center. The commissioners unanimously voted to recommend the rezoning.
A rezoning request by Bo Slaughter, on behalf of Jeb Boggus, to rezone 43 acres along Mike Padgett Highway from Agricultural and Light Industrial to Manufactured Home Residential, in order to build a mobile home park, was postponed until the next meeting.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
