Several townhome projects and a major mixed-use development downtown were among the slew of petitions the Augusta Planning Commission considered on Wednesday.
Winchester Homes, along with property owners Ray Clyde and Susanmarie Harden, applied in July to rezone nine tracts totaling 20 acres along Pleasant Home Road from R-1 and R-1B to R-1E single-family residential. The proposed neighborhood would include 143 one and two-story single-family homes, 54 detached and 89 townhomes; along with a clubhouse, a dog park and several open spaces.
The subdivision is to also include two new internal streets, extending Sterling Road to Pleasant Home Road, connecting to the latter at the intersection with Foxhall Drive.
Planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning with 10 conditions, one of which was that a traffic study may be required.
Jim Trotter of real estate law firm Trotter Jones, speaking on behalf of Winchester Homes, cited to the Planning Commission a traffic study conducted at the area last year in connection with a proposed apartment complex that was ultimately voted down by the Augusta Commission.
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That study concluded that traffic in the area is already congested and would warrant be the installation of two traffic signals, Trotter said; one of which would be at the entrance of Foxhall Drive.
John Ussery, assistant director of the Traffic Engineering Division, speaking on the matter on behalf of Richmond County, confirmed Trotter, noting that the division presented three potential solutions: adding a center turn lane, installing a series of roundabouts or adding a series of traffic signals.
“If this rezoning petition is approved, then we would require them to update the traffic study that was done in 2021,” said Ussery. “I’m expecting pretty much the same results; it probably will say that a traffic signal was warranted at this location.”
Traffic was one of the key concerns expressed by neighboring resident Randy Sasser, who acted as spokesperson for a crowd of residents of the area who attended the meeting to oppose the rezoning.
Sasser mentioned the levels of congestion along Pleasant Home Road, and that the Georgia Department of Transportation had assessed it as a heavy traffic area (which Ussery also confirmed). He also criticized the proposal of connecting Pleasant Home and Sterling Roads, saying that it would have an “extreme negative impact” on neighbors on nearby Ravenwood Drive.
“We are not against development. We are for developing this property at the current zoning,” Sasser said. “That zoning is the highest and best use for this property and will cause the least negative impact on the existing neighborhoods.”
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Ussery told the commissioners that if the rezoning request were denied, there would be no impetus for a new traffic study.
The Planning Commission voted twice on the matter: the commissioners voted 6-5 against a motion to approve to rezoning request; but also 6-5 against a motion to deny, effectively killing the motion and yielding no official decision from the commission.
A petition by Sankait Tham, on behalf of Poplar Group, LLC, to rezone some 24 acres at 2401 Tobacco Rd. from R-1 to R-1E one-family residential, in order to build a subdivision of 143 two-story townhomes, was also voted down 8 – 1, amid similar complaints from residents in the area about congestion and safety,
A mixed-used development downtown was recommended approval. Joe Edge, president of the Sherman & Hemstreet real estate firm and also the publisher of The Augusta Press, requested on behalf of Gateway to Augusta, LLC, to rezone some 22 parcels, totaling approximately four acres, along James Brown Boulevard from one-family residential and general business zoning for a planned unit development.
The proposed complex, called James Apartments, would be a six-story building with 163 apartment units as well as retail and office space. The commissioners ultimately recommend approval with a vote of 6 – 4 in favor of the petition.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
