In a recent government meeting, a petition by Reid Forsley was presented, seeking to rezone a 0.17-acre property located at 803 Metcalfe Street from P-1 Professional Office to R-1C Single Family Residential. The property, which currently houses a single-family residence built in 1929, measures approximately 1,423 square feet.

Ashley Caterton, the Development Services Administrator for Planning and Development, outlined the details of the request. The rezoning aims to allow the continued residential use of the property, which was previously rezoned in 1987 to accommodate a dental laboratory. The current zoning regulations for R-1C require a minimum lot width of 60 feet and a minimum area of 6,000 square feet. The subject property, however, is approximately 50 feet wide and has an area of 7,405 square feet, making it non-compliant with the width requirement.

The property is situated in the old Augusta character area, adjacent to the historic Somerville area and within the Harrisburg neighborhood. Surrounding zoning includes a mix of B-1 Neighborhood Business and R-1C Single Family Residential. Notably, the property is not located within a special flood hazard area, nor does it contain wetlands, and public water and sewer services are available.

The petition reflects ongoing efforts to adapt land use in response to community needs, particularly in areas with mixed zoning classifications. Further discussions and evaluations will determine the outcome of this rezoning request.