Members of the North Augusta Planning Commission followed the wishes of citizens and voted against rezoning property on Georgia Avenue for a new public safety headquarters.
The site is currently zoned general commercial and is in the neighborhood preservation overlay. Interim Planning and Development Director Tommy Paradise said rezoning the property to public use will negate those restrictions on the property.
MORE: North Augusta Public Safety Heading to Georgia Avenue Location
Several citizens spoke during the required public hearing prior to a vote, including Ken Powell, who spoke at the Aug. 12 public hearing to get citizen input on the plan.
Powell said his number one concern is the Georgia Avenue property is the city’s only historic district.
“We have one area that is in the National Historic Registry,” he said. “I think they ought to use the land for something that has a significant benefit to the history of North Augusta. Basically, you can put a public safety headquarters building anywhere you can find the land. You cannot replace that historic district.”
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The site, which still has two historic structures, was part of a hunting lodge built by North Augusta’s founder, James U. Jackson. The lodge supported visitors to another Jackson property, the Hampton Terrace Hotel, which was lost in a 1916 fire.
Originally, the plan was to build on East Buena Vista Avenue near the current headquarters, but since the plan was presented to council in September 2020, site and construction cost estimates have increased by about $850,000 more than the location on Georgia Avenue.
When the public hearing was closed, several planning commission members gave their opinions on the request, including Bob Bigger.
“I think this whole project has been a sore eye for the city. If not, then close to it. A good ol’ boy decision,” said Bigger. “I’m very disappointed we’re subjected to have to make a decision that we should never have had to make.”
MORE: Moving Forward with North Augusta’s New Public Safety Headquarters
The five members at the Sept. 16 meeting voted unanimously to not recommend rezoning the Flythe/Seven Gables properties for public use. Chairwoman Dr. Christine Crawford and Vice Chairwoman JoAnn McKie were absent. The decision was applauded by citizens at the meeting.
The planning commission’s action is a recommendation. City council can chose to follow the recommendation or disregard it.
Clifford said he will present the planning commission’s decision to city council at the Sept. 20 meeting. He said he still will recommend they vote to use the Georgia Avenue property for the project.
There is a website where more information about the project is available. That website is here.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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