The Augusta Planning Commission voted to postpone a proposed tiny home village project on Hephzibah-McBean Road.
Prestige Wealth Management LLC petitioned to rezone a parcel at 1412 Hephzibah-McBean Road from R-3A to R-3B Multi-family Residential, and also requested a special exception, to allow for the construction of five 200 to 400-square foot houses.
Sade Kong, CEO of Prestige Wealth Management, told Planning Commissioners that the impetus for the project to develop an affordable tiny home subdivision was her own experience having been homeless.
“I’d rather help one family at a time,” said Kong. “I can start with five families where it’s not even long term leases, it will be until they can get on their feet and they can afford to live in something much bigger for their family.”
Planning staff recommended denial of the requests, saying the project is incompatible with Richmond County’s comprehensive plan.
Part of Kong’s proposal is to install septic tanks for the homes, similarly to a neighboring apartment complex. When Planning Commissioner Debra Spencer asked staff if the underground septic system was a factor in staff’s deciding the project didn’t fit with the comprehensive plan, development services manager Kevin Boyd noted that the Richmond County Department of Health oversees the approval of septic systems, and that planning staff considers several factors to determine whether a proposed development is compatible with the county’s plan.
“The question is… in terms of other aspects of the comp plan, does it satisfy the predominant nature of what’s surrounding the site,” said Boyd. “This will be the only tiny home complex in in that area.”
Spencer responded that, “That’s because tiny homes are new to our area,” going on to underscore that similar issues are likely to arise when the county considers tiny home projects.
Planning Commissioner George McKnight made sure to underscore that the planning staff’s assessment was based on the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, not merely a concern about sewer lines, which Boyd confirmed.
Boyd also noted that Kong would be advised to reach out to the Dept. of Health for an assessment on where septic tanks could be placed, and that, through further discussions with the planning staff, could work to address elements of the tiny home village plan that are counter to the comprehensive plan’s tiny home provisions.
The commissioners would ultimately vote unanimously to postpone both requests until next month’s meeting.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering general reporting for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com
