The Grovetown City Council voted down a rezoning along E. Robinson Avenue for a proposed townhome development during its February meeting, Monday evening.
HA & PM Development proposed to the city an ordinance to rezone its four-acre parcel at 210 E. Robinson Ave. from Neighborhood Commercial to R-C2 Residential. The Martinez-based company planned to build 38 townhome units on the property, at roughly 8.31 units per acre, with more than an acre of open space, a dog park, playground and a stormwater management facility.
Grovetown United Methodist Church is located west of the vacant property, and Grovetown Elementary School is to its south, across Ford Avenue.
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Phillip McCormick, one of the proprietors of HA & MP, told the council that the firm had attempted for years to sell the property as commercial to no avail, and decided to go for a residential development.
Grovetown Elementary seemed a suitable potential neighbor for the subdivision, he said, as it was the only school in the county with retail, rather than residential, space zoned in front of it.
“With retail it brings higher buildings, because of the zoning. It brings increased traffic, it brings a criminal element to the front of the school,” said McCormick, also noting that his development could aid traffic. “We couldn’t see putting any kind of commercial on a property.”
Robinson Avenue resident Susan Thrush spoke in opposition to the rezoning request during the citizens comments portion of the meeting, citing concerns about the structure and maintenance of the planned neighborhood.
“I just don’t think that the millions that is going to be made… equals to what the city’s going to get in stormwater [bills] and taxes each month is really going to be worth it,” said Thrush. “It’s not worth the aesthetics in the next 40 to 50 years.”
The Planning Commission had voted against recommending approval of the rezoning during its January meeting.
City Councilmember Richard Bowman motioned to approve the zoning ordinance, but the motion died as none of the other councilmembers seconded. Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blair motioned to deny the ordinance, and Councilmember Sylvia Martin seconded. All the council save Bowman voted against the request.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
