Residents came out in force to actually support the arrival of a proposed new liquor store in Summerville, Monday afternoon, during the Augusta Planning Commission’s July meeting.
Vaishaliben Patel requested a special exception at 2059 Central Ave. to allow him to establish a package store next to the convenience store he owns at the site. In May of last year the Augusta Commission denied a similar request by Patel at the parcel. In May of this year, the commissioners voted to revert the petition back to the Planning Commission.
Patel went before the planning commissioners accompanied by nearby resident Brad Owens to speak on his behalf. Owens commended Patel as a “good neighbor” and extolled his improvements on the property and how kempt, clean and safe he’s kept the store.
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“He… redesigned the ingress and egress of the property to make it more efficient traffic flow for the patrons entering and exiting the property,” Owens said to the planning commissioners. “There’s been no problems on the property, there’s been no police problems… His employees, they respect the law, they’ll obey the law, and they respect our neighborhood. The property’s cleaner. It’s better lit. It’s better maintained than I’ve ever seen it in my life.”
Owens moreover contended that most of the area adjacent to the property is commercial. This was counter to the planning staff’s assessment that the area surrounding the property, which is itself zoned Neighborhood Business (B-1), is predominantly residential rather than commercial, which would disqualify it for special exception for a liquor store.
One objector, Annette Thurmond, differed with Owens and agreed with the planning staff that the area is largely residential, with businesses interspersed. Ed Osterberg, who lives nearby, spoke in favor of the special exception request and argued that Patel’s property meets the city’s criteria for the exception.
“The only true objective [criteria for the special exception] is the distance to a park or a school, which does not apply here,” Osterberg said. “The residential portion is a subjective one. If you look at most of the businesses that are along that street or anywhere else, they back up to residential, which is really common. You can find a lot of that, even in downtown. It’s not abnormal. But along the street itself, it is commercial.”
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Several audience members, residents of the area familiar with Patel and his store, agreed with Osterberg, as well as his and Owens’ comments that Patel’s business had already proven good for the neighborhood.
Planning Commissioner Steve Lariscy made a motion. to deny the request, as recommended by planning staff, which was seconded by Donnie Smith.
Lariscy, Smith and Commissioners George McKnight and Stephanie Clarke voted in favor of denying the petition, while Commissioners James O’Neal, Douglas Prince, Zelwin Davis, Trisha Mallis, Michael Owens, Debra Spenser and Robert Cooks voted against it.
A motion by McKnight to approve the exception on the condition the liquor store be closed by 9 p.m. was eventually passed, with all voting in favor save for Smith, Lariscy and Clarke.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
