The Augusta Planning Commission voted on rezoning the Regency Mall property in its meeting on Monday, but a petition to open an adult care center in a Hephzibah subdivision proved to be the most contentious item on its agenda.
Dr. Ayodele Ayedun of First Imex Corp., also known as More Care, had requested a special exception to establish a family personal care home at 3749 Crest Dr., which is in the Sand Ridge residential subdivision. The proposed facility would provide care for four adults, by staff who would not be living at the location. The request did not indicate any plans for additions to the property.
The Planning Department noted that Ayedun owns four other properties in Augusta, two of which—on Apple Valley Drive and Story Mill Road—had obtained special exceptions for family personal care homes. Currently, only the home at 1612 Apple Valley Dr. has a current business license for a family personal care home. The other two never applied for special exceptions to be used as personal care homes.
“We provide care to the elderly people, fragile people,” said Ayedun, touting his care service business. “We are also trying to help them live a fulfilled life.”
The proposed care home’s neighbors came out in force in opposition. More than 30 residents of the Sand Ridge subdivision attended the meeting to speak out against the special exception request.
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“We want to live up to the standards of a community of excellence,” said Jacqueline Fason, president of the Sand Ridge Community Association. Fason, acting as spokesperson for many of the homeowners in opposition to Ayedun’s request, cited to the commissioners a petition of 175 signatures from neighbors.
“We do not want to be the community known as personal care home community,” she said, saying other personal care homes had been opened in the neighborhood. “I think the increase in the numbers of personal care homes would take down not just the property value, but the appearance; and people make a lot of promises about what it’s going to look like, but can those promises be fulfilled?”
Many complaints followed along similar lines, with homeowners raising concerns about property value, propriety and even safety, including those of the patients in the facility, as their care would be provided by staff working shifts.
“The Department of Behavioral (Health) and Developmental Disabilities does not permit me to live in the same house,” Ayedun said. “But I treat them as members of my family.”
The Planning Department staff initially recommended approval of the special exception but walked back its recommendation in response to the level of opposition.
The Planning Commission ultimately voted down Ayedun’s request, with all voting in favor of denial with the exeptions of Commissioners Michael Owen, Jeffrey Pooser and Lorraine Barlett.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
