A developer looking to build a subdivision of cottages in Evans opted to postpone its rezoning request by a month.
Brightside Homes had sought to rezone 14 acres of property across from Mullins Crossing, from Single-family Residential (R-2) to Planned Residential Development (PRD) to construct a proposed neighborhood called Washington Cottages.
A PRD zoning would allow for home lots smaller than 10,000 square feet, as opposed to R-2. The 123 cottages, ranging from one to three bedroom and one to two stories, would not be arranged on individual parcels, but rather in sections of no more than 15 units around courtyard spaces.
During the Columbia County Planning Commission’s regular meeting, Thursday night, planner Danielle Montgomery noted that the attached and detached homes would “essentially be rental units,” as the subject property is sandwiched between an apartment complex–to which, Montgomery said, the new subdivision would likely be connected—and the Washington Commons retirement community, both high-density developments.
“From a strictly use perspective, density perspective, this makes some sense,” said Montgomery to the planning commissioners, noting that a flood plain along Washington Road complicates a potential connection to the apartment complex. “Where we do have some concerns are with the actual engineering and construction design of this site, particularly in regards to access and fire code and fire department requirements.”
Amid these concerns, planning staff recommended postponing a vote on the rezoning request until March 20, giving time for the applicants to provide the county with more information about their plans for the development.
Neither representatives from Brightside Homes, nor from Gray C.L. Enterprises, who owns the property, spoke on behalf of the request, and no one from the public opted to speak against it. The commissioners voted unanimously to postpone the item to March 20.
Developer Hughston Homes requested to withdraw without prejudice its request to rezone a 100-acre parcel on Hamilton Road in Grovetown from R-2 to R-1 Single-family residential. Planning staff had originally recommended postponing the rezoning request and an accompany variance request, applied to make way for a proposed 36-unit subdivision called Hamilton Grove.
Staff cited the results of a soil test submitted with the conceptual plan as its reason for recommending tabling the request, as the health department had requested a more detailed soil survey.
The planning commissioners voted unanimously to let the applicants withdraw their application.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
