An attempt to remedy a zoning oversight amid an expanding store was cause for some contention during the Augusta Planning Commission’s meeting, Wednesday afternoon.
Hatchaway LLC petitioned to rezone a portion of its property at 3363 Ravenwood Drive from Single-family Residential (R-1A) to Neighborhood Business (B-1), to accommodate the expansion of a business, Good Earth Produce & Garden Center, at 150 Davis Road, also owned by the applicant.
Attorney Jim Trotter, speaking to the commissioners, explained that Rick Catts, the owner of Hatchaway LLC, purchased the lot at Ravenwood amid the success and growth of Good Earth, using the parcel to keep five storage containers for the business, at the time unaware that this would require the property be rezoned.
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Trotter also underscored that Catts had corresponded with two neighbors residing on either side of the Ravenwood parcel, claiming both expressed approval of him storing the containers at the rear portion of the lot, provided he heightened the fence to shield the sight. Trotter noted that Catts obliged, which would later require him to request a separate variance.
The purpose of the request, Trotter said, would be to allow Catts to tuck the containers to a legally zoned portion.
“We believe that that would be the best result for the neighborhood as well,” said Trotter. “[Mr. Catts] wants to be a good neighbor. He wants to sell to all the people in the Ravenwood subdivision. Most of them are good customers already.”
Trotter further explained that if Catts’ request were not approved, and he were not permitted to keep the storage sheds on the Ravenwood property, he would have to move them closer to Toucan Road, which intersects both Ravenwood Drive and Davis Road, “or other areas where they’re more visible to the entrance of the subdivision.”
The visibility of the storage containers was a major point for neighboring residents who attended the meeting to oppose the rezoning request.
“To look out my front door or my front window, or go out in my yard and see this on a daily basis is disgusting,” said Ravenwood homeowner Elaine Henry, speaking for a group of neighbors, noting that she and her fellow residents do not object to the business itself—where many in the neighborhood are frequent shoppers.
Another nearby resident, Michael J. Williams, also noted that he often shopped at Catts’ store himself, and has a good rapport with him, while still speaking out against the request.
“The biggest issue is that he asked the neighbor to the left and neighbor to the right,” said Williams. “Well, what about the residents across the street and around the corner?”
He would go on to say that he and other residents would be willing to confer with Catts and come up with compromise. The opposing neighbors, Williams and Henry included, indicated they would be favorable to the aforementioned alternative of storing the containers on Toucan Road, where they would not be visible to most of the residents.
Commissioner Debra Spencer made a motion to deny the request, which would have corresponded to the planning staff’s recommendation. Vice Chair Jeffery Pooser, however, put forth a substitute motion to approve with conditions recommended by staff.
Commissioners Spencer, James O’Neal, Douglas Prince, Zelwin Davis and George McKnight voted against this motion, while Commissioners Pooser, Stephanie Clarke, Trisha Mallis and Michael Owens voted to approve. This caused a tie, which Chairman Sonny Pittman broke by voting to deny, which effectively denied the motion.
O’Neal then posited a new motion to postpone the item until next month’s meeting, to give time for Catts and the Ravenwood residents to reach a compromise. All of the commissioners save Owens voted in favor.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
