The Augusta-Richmond Planning Commission voted in favor of a proposed subdivision in south Augusta, during its May meeting Monday afternoon.
Beazley Homes had successfully petitioned for a special exception at 4477-B Windsor Spring Road and 2551 Willis Foreman Road, back in 2020, seeking to reduce the minimum lot width requirement in order to build a new subdivision. The developer lost the exception after the project had not come to fruition six months later.
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Now Beazley again plans to develop a subdivision on the property, with more than 160 detached lots along the 59 acres, and has returned to the city to reapprove its special exception.
Commissioner George Locke McKnight noted that no facilities, such as basketball courts or playgrounds, were shown in the concept plans for the new development.
Joseph Gulino, vice president of land management for Beazley Homes, responded that the cost of these kind of amenities, and particularly that of maintaining them, would be passed on to future buyers and their homeowners association.
“Two pickleball courts [will] cost you close to $50,000. I have to spread that $50,000 over all these lots to help pay for that,” said Gulino, underscoring that the proposed project is to consist of housing for working people.
McKnight also suggested that at least 30% of the homes be built with brick or stone facades. Gulino replied that the market would likely lead to the majority of the homes being constructed with brick and stone.
Gulino also stated that open spaces and walking trails can be incorporated into the plans for neighborhood. Amid no objections, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the special exception.
The commissioners also all voted to recommend a rezoning for a townhome project in the Bethlehem district. The Augusta Housing and Community Development Department requested to rezone six lots on Twelfth Street owned by the Augusta Land Bank, from One-family to Multi-family Residential, to build 10 attached townhouses across two buildings.
Construction of the development, if approved, would be expected to be completed after about six months, said Shanna Carkhum, development manager for Augusta-Richmond County Housing and Development.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
