Marshall Mills, the proposed new Grovetown subdivision by Ivey Development, got its stamp of approval from the Columbia County Planning Commission in its meeting on Thursday.
Hargrove Development, owned by the Ivey Group, applied on Aug. 11 to rezone 102 acres off Harlem Grovetown Rd. from residential agricultural to single-family residential. Hargrove, which owns the property, also submitted concept plans for the neighborhood, which currently include 73 lots for one and two-story detached homes, along with some 47 acres of open space.
The planning department reviewed the rezoning request and the concept plans separately, and recommended both for approval.
Conditions set by the planning staff for the rezoning included that the development use the city’s water and sewer, that the developer provide proof that the City of Grovetown reviewed and approved all off-site road improvements; and that sidewalks, five feet wide at minimum, be in place on at least one side of the roads, and a minimum six-foot planting strip placed between the curb and the sidewalk.
Mark Ivey of Ivey Development asked the commissioners to relieve the condition for sidewalks, noting that the size of the lots—half an acre and larger—prohibits curbs and gutters.
Neighboring resident Triana Rivera-Megias opposed the rezoning, noting traffic congestion, especially at schools nearby, which include Grovetown Middle School and Cedar Ridge Elementary School.
“I think it would be a great idea at some point when everything is improved,” said Rivera-Megias. “But right now I think it’s really important to take into consideration the citizens that are currently living there, and our children, that might also have to suffer the consequences of such rezoning.”
George Sylvester, another nearby resident, also spoke against the rezoning, also citing traffic issues, as well as environmental concerns and the wetlands located on the property.
“If you go by, it looks the way a wooded area should look,” Sylvester said. “Now you’re going to come in there and throw 70 houses in.”
Commissioner Gene Futch made a motion to approve the rezoning without the condition to include sidewalks, after which the commissioners voted unanimously in favor.
The Planning Commission also voted on an appeal to the county regarding a parcel on the east side of Flowing Wells Road.
Josh Mastel, the current owner of 206 and 208 Flowing Wells Rd., requested the appeal on behalf of his tenant, Rhonda Calvin, who aims to operate a personal care center at the site. Mastel indicated in correspondence with the planning department that improvements to the site–which included removing trees and completing the driveway and parking area–were underway in the meantime.
The property has been the subject of several conditional use and rezoning requests in the past year. Mushanda Blount-Ray sought a conditional use to open a child daycare at the site twice, last June and May of this year. The Board of Commissioners denied both requests.
Calvin, who is already licensed by the state to operate a care center with up to four adults, has been leasing the property since last October, but has not been running a business.
“This is due to a combination of factors,” said the staff report on the appeal. “Including the withdrawal of the rezoning request for the previous proposed business for residential childcare facility and a subsequent change in the proposed business model to a personal care home and the process for receiving a state license for that purpose.”
Calvin applied for a business license on July 25 to operate her adult care facility, Wells Garden, at the location. The county denied her license based on the property being non-conforming and vacant for over 12 months.
The county code states that nonconforming properties, may not be reestablished after discontinuance for more than a year, and the last business license associated with the site expired in December of 2020.
The Planning Commission ultimately voted to deny the appeal, also unanimously.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
