[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,73,85,97],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6176873,"mediaKeyId","5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004","parentId",5342807,"title","Planning commission approves small Richmond Hill subdivision rezoning for 14 homes with site-plan conditions","audioSeconds",1406,"startMs",6368000,"endMs",7774000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004&start=6368&end=7774","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004/thumbnail_6368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6176873/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Planning-commission-approves-small-Richmond-Hill-subdivision-rezoning-for-14-homes-with-site-plan-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176873-819385bd542aab453245cf2813bfdd86/orig.mp4?Expires=1769849524&Signature=aYUNmphHmUqfMCdeB0tEOYI20vuNPYeoQ92MkfhCFaXeEnfJJRI-SJ5jJuMuKDhsqmtAWnXpAFgYAsgQDbuSHZvBdEQ4mpXijTwl9SOZC7qEVZMXipPFIwDsk065kR~LmeHVai3JsX4Zn2ZM1D3RAxebhwUf0K2nZYTcVP--4Ab~4xMVZ5MfJGmG6yC0eJ2R8pTRIhAGrA~wAaq5dVl3PwiHWLewVOcGWCevSsZGMxirjao71MuiJrPqL96qeT1t7UYqUHT7ZyiPzz0MhmaIWo7zViZPINOtraMDlEZQjVQZQjblvgVYJvXPKSGX8mRcpz-0siS-mP~orWiZ1gl0xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-08T12:20:16Z","article","The Augusta Georgia Planning Commission approved rezoning for a 4.88-acre tract at 3626 Richmond Hill Road from R-1 to R-1C to allow development of a 14-lot single-family subdivision, with conditions requiring conformity to the submitted concept plan, sidewalks on at least one side of internal streets and a required site-plan review before construction.

Petitioner Carolyn Henry described community outreach, canvassing neighbors and a neighborhood meeting. Henry said the proposal calls for 14 single-family detached homes with a minimum house size of about 1,700 square feet under roof and optional porches and garages that could increase finished sizes toward 2,500 square feet.

Staff reported the property is vacant and not in a FEMA special flood hazard area. Public water and sanitary sewer are available. Staff recommended approval to R-1C with the conditions that the development conform to the submitted concept plan, that sidewalks be required on at least one side of internal streets within the proposed subdivision, and that site-plan approval and compliance with site-plan regulations be obtained prior to construction.

Opponents raised concerns about drainage, the age and capacity of nearby sewer infrastructure and the character of the neighborhood, saying the area includes long-term residents and large lots. One neighbor said the lower-lying land behind the properties acts as a drainage/flood area and that older sewer lines might not accommodate additional connections. Supporters, including property- and neighborhood-based supporters and an Augusta Land Bank representative, urged approval, citing tax-base benefits and the opportunity to convert city-owned stagnating land to taxable homeownership lots.

The petitioner accepted the staff conditions. The commission voted and approved the rezoning with the staff conditions; final development will require compliance with all development standards and site-plan approval before construction.

Ending: The rezoning approval permits the petitioner to proceed to site-plan design and permitting based on the concept plan and staff conditions; engineering, drainage and sewer connections will be reviewed and must be approved during the site-plan and permitting processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning & Development Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved rezoning of a 4.88-acre parcel on Richmond Hill Road from R-1 to R-1C to create a 14-lot subdivision of single-family homes, subject to conformity with the submitted concept plan and site-plan review.","taxTitle","Augusta City, Richmond County, Georgia","taxId",3794,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_32":74,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":75,"_40":76,"_42":77,"_44":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6176877,"Augusta planning commission approves mixed-use PUD at Stevens Creek with design and parking conditions",1722,4256000,5978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004&start=4256&end=5978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004/thumbnail_4256000.jpg","/articles/6176877/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Augusta-planning-commission-approves-mixed-use-PUD-at-Stevens-Creek-with-design-and-parking-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176877-e5f61b345b7bc0366e8498be8e6c9645/orig.mp4?Expires=1769849524&Signature=k844kEcSwpEFOa86dJ97TYgpSu8F7lUFqbExoH1dgJ6KAh6HJFlLCAzBSDxcXDsLxvSTRceICtexOdb0g7CZJ0JO4syB70-jN2nMON95aqQdhBblopIg5ilOlD1w6DtQsB8Hk02uiokdCfHGBwwV8YTr0wmnLVld8kGbFrjHuRwT3TxCAcyfC20G5m2thtQjsDLBqlnf15Q1WfRf-JmcTlWmi6UasZpdUm1t26j4X0jM6vsne7bih3oNZk6AXEfqfWGVKbSGabTWje4aI1~jPn26mjJ8WbhJ-kA9aZ5G~A6aDZBTT~cmq4lEymqG4akWnLcDMpPBG8zS0skPWvAXkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta Georgia Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning seven parcels totaling about 12.7 acres at Stevens Creek Road and Riverwatch Parkway from R-1A to a Planned Unit Development that would allow a mixed-use project combining approximately 27,300 square feet of commercial space and 136 residential units under specified conditions.

Zoning administrator Brian Kepner presented the petition from Longleaf Manor LLC and explained the PUD would reserve roughly 2.6 acres for commercial uses limited to B-2-type retail with several use restrictions (for example, pawn shops, flea markets and automotive service centers would be excluded). The residential area would total about 10.4 acres and include a mix of single-family detached houses, attached townhomes, duplexes and multifamily flats; multifamily buildings would be limited to three stories and 55 feet in height.

The application proposed about 3.85 acres (approximately 29%) as open space and included internal private streets, sidewalks on both sides of new streets, on-street parking, and a gated residential lease community (the developer stated residential units would not be offered as fee-simple homes).

Traffic engineering reviewed the applicant’s worksheet and did not require a full traffic-impact study at the rezoning stage; staff noted engineering would require compliance with curb-cut permitting and other traffic and engineering requirements during site-plan review. The applicant said the project complies with the 2023 comprehensive plan’s encouragement of mixed-use redevelopment and emphasized walkability and connections to an adjacent city park.

Staff recommended 19 conditions tied to the PUD narrative, including limits on permitted uses in the commercial area, maximum building heights, overall residential density caps (the staff condition set a maximum of 16 dwelling units per acre in the 10.4-acre residential portion), parking minimums (an overall average of 2.25 spaces per residential unit and 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. commercial), a 20-foot buffer around the development with a 10-foot planted area, compliance with the Augusta Tree Ordinance, directional signage only in the residential area, downward-directed parking-lot lighting, and that amenities be installed prior to the issuance of certificates of occupancy. Staff also emphasized that site-plan approval and standard permitting must be obtained before construction.

Petitioner representatives said the development would use high-quality materials (hardy board, brick, metal roofs) rather than vinyl siding and that the design is modeled on similar mixed-use communities elsewhere. Several commissioners asked about duplex locations and management; the petitioner said there would be on-site management and described the duplexes and “paired villas” as limited in number and intended as higher-quality rented product.

Public commenters raised both support and concern. Opponents asked about density, traffic circulation, maintenance of the adjacent park and potential impacts on nearby residential streets; supporters said the development would increase tax base and add housing options.

Ending: The commission recommended the PUD rezoning with the staff’s 19 conditions; the petition will proceed to the Augusta Commission for final action and must obtain site-plan and permitting approvals before any development begins.","The commission approved a planned unit development (PUD) at Stevens Creek Road and Riverwatch Parkway that would allow up to 27,300 sq. ft. commercial and 136 residential units with design, buffer and parking conditions and required site-plan review.",{"_32":86,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":87,"_40":88,"_42":89,"_44":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6176882,"Planning commission recommends rezoning for Gibson Road townhome project with density cut by 25%",915,2601000,3516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004&start=2601&end=3516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004/thumbnail_2601000.jpg","/articles/6176882/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Planning-commission-recommends-rezoning-for-Gibson-Road-townhome-project-with-density-cut-by-25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176882-e4ac5157b46e78d433a4f644f21139c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1769849524&Signature=FcT97UqcEkWpveQdHmWJ~x5HNF2DX4H7l7KyybBfGJFSu0IWG06NSm87PWW0A38gj-MmFf4tzVNZQIyBKjHqc5cWhrUIGaT0qlTK2u7BPoScxtBUGdEK~wIytvmNq8aPkB6zYPGsJ6OXtHiZzeXlAAeCVGR49WwYVK95ymbajx5HJzgYWHhLaYQlFuXU2GRZ4-st3KEBDkMwImT65GGRDEinHwD76otcX~0GY7WFCXn9RcIkH-8-eHVYPpy3InpLpFinIoAzLyzc00eBk~ZHTTFjyGBhwkIoKReGzefZV8axwxEFSjJOWZSSSC50HfBdWe9EU4Vrn96IXy86rbQC-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta Georgia Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning to R-1E for property around 3330 Gibson Road to support a proposed townhome community after adding a condition to reduce proposed density by 25% and requiring infrastructure improvements.

Kevin Boyd, development services manager, presented the rezoning request, describing a consolidated application covering roughly 49.22 acres across multiple parcels. The petitioner originally proposed 299 attached townhome units at an overall density of 6.07 units per acre and 31% open space, public streets with access on Mason Road and Old McDuffie Road, guest parking, clubhouse, pool and detention ponds. Boyd noted the site currently has public water but said there was no sanitary sewer on-site at the time of presentation.

Petitioner representative Kavya Shivedi told the commission she had reduced the original plan’s density from near 8 units per acre to about 6, held multiple community meetings and eliminated road connections that neighbors opposed, saying the team had worked with planning staff to address concerns. Traffic engineering staff reviewed the traffic-impact worksheet and recommended no full traffic study at the rezoning stage, although engineering said road and related site improvements would be required during site-plan review.

Traffic engineering explained that Old McDuffie Road’s existing average daily traffic would increase but remain under typical capacity thresholds for a two-lane road; the department said a full traffic study is not required for this development but that the developer must work with traffic engineering during final design to mitigate impacts. The development’s engineer, Gary Bennett of Southern Civil Solutions, said sewer is available at Mason Drive and would be extended into the development and that Mason Drive would be improved to engineering standards as part of final design.

Commission discussion focused on density, building materials and infrastructure. Commissioner McKnight expressed concern about construction quality in some recent townhome projects and asked whether vinyl siding would be limited; staff recommended alternating elevations with no more than 30% vinyl on any single elevation. The petitioner, representing a developer rather than the eventual builder, said they could not unilaterally guarantee final exterior-material choices but indicated willingness to work with planning staff and builders during site plan review.

A substitute motion to lower overall density by 25% was moved, seconded and adopted by roll call; the commission’s recommendation therefore forwarded the rezoning with the staff conditions plus the density reduction. Staff conditions included minimum lot widths of 26 feet, specified front setbacks, alternating elevations with no more than 30% vinyl on an elevation, sidewalks on both sides of new streets and extension of sidewalks to Mason Road, 15-foot street yards along Old McDuffie Road, compliance with the Augusta Tree Ordinance, at least 25% open space (not counting detention ponds), and that amenities be installed and operational before the 150th certificate of occupancy. The staff report also made site-plan approval a required subsequent step and noted that approval of rezoning does not by itself permit construction.

Ending: The commission’s recommendation to approve the rezoning to R-1E with a 25% density reduction and specified infrastructure/architectural conditions will be forwarded to the full Augusta Commission for final action; engineering and site-plan review must be completed before construction may begin.","The commission recommended rezoning roughly 49.22 acres on Gibson Road for a townhouse development after the petitioner reduced proposed density; the commission added a further 25% reduction and required infrastructure improvements including sewer extension and roadway upgrades.",{"_32":98,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":99,"_40":100,"_42":101,"_44":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6176886,"Augusta planning commission approves liquor store special exception at Central Avenue with 9 p.m. closing",1865,649000,2514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004&start=649&end=2514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342807-3ce34d04e175a10efa1a19fd2f4b6004/thumbnail_649000.jpg","/articles/6176886/Augusta-City/Richmond-County/Georgia/Augusta-planning-commission-approves-liquor-store-special-exception-at-Central-Avenue-with-9-pm-closing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176886-b9f9e1e2a77d7df92a383a9f194d4a4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1769849524&Signature=NdXY7cPMS7rdIWdHxS6w8Wj-XWtQT5nJNvZ7gRlVBym26Ewzy9A6jtJcXvHo~ckSUN376rzX1jcRsy8RstsRRYqTrrUbKyjYMGnfZcdaONLx8JKqDL3-TmwOSCW9FckaQkUmx5EpJD8lnRui0ZYD8Dr2o7mFU9cKKUUIRInAuxgB5yK02NXoHMMyUEfPng5-aQKYgSm4GTnYl4af~mj4lwvrPpuj08AXiSbFt6LYjdOrNu~VurEiSCwxh37mPodyoN5ZwU5y5PNefXfU2bVj70H6f7wz4isD0OprYpOSOgVOyu78ZNKD3hNSPa1ZbmL8KyWN9855DWGqkIgMLYfufw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta Georgia Planning Commission voted to approve a special exception allowing a liquor store at 2059 Central Avenue, but limited alcohol sales to end at 9 p.m.

The commission acted after hearing staff analysis, testimony from the applicant and neighbors, and a petition both supporting and opposing the request. Planning staff had recommended denial because the site did not meet two of three criteria in section 21-2(c) of the comprehensive zoning ordinance governing liquor stores in the B-1 zone.

Ryan Jones, Planner I, presented staff findings and noted that the property is a 0.52-acre tract in the B-1 neighborhood-business district, currently occupied by a convenience store and a three-pump gas canopy. Jones said the site is in the Old Augusta character area and within the Somerville Historic District, and that it failed to meet staff's interpretation of two specific criteria in section 21-2(c): that the surrounding area not be “predominantly residential” and that the parcel be at the intersection of two arterial streets or within 500 feet of such an intersection. Jones also noted a prior 2022 special exception for the convenience store that included a condition that “no liquor store shall be allowed on the property” without a separate special exception.

Petitioner Pras Kumar Patel and supporter Brad Owens spoke in favor. Owens said the owner, Paul, improved the property since acquiring it in 2010 and that the corner functions as a commercial node. “Within five years, he did a major renovation and improved the property both in value and aesthetic,” Owens said. He argued the expansion would face the existing laundromat and not residential uses.

Resident Annette Thurman spoke in opposition, saying, “We do not need another alcohol establishment in a neighborhood,” and noting a mix of medical and neighborhood commercial uses nearby. Supporter Ed Oscarberg described the immediate corridor as commercial and said no full-package liquor store presently serves the area.

Commission deliberations included an initial failed motion to deny and a later motion to approve with a substitute condition proposed by Commissioner McKnight to restrict liquor-store hours. The petitioner agreed to amend the proposed restriction to 9 p.m. Staff counsel confirmed the hour restriction was legally permissible. On the final roll call for approval with the 9 p.m. closing condition the commission recorded seven votes in favor and four opposed, and the special exception was approved.

This approval does not exempt the project from historic-preservation review for any exterior changes in the Somerville Historic District, nor does it change the convenience-store special-exception condition that originally governed the site. The commission record shows staff received three written oppositions and a petition of support submitted by the applicant.

Planning staff also noted that public transit does not serve this section of Central Avenue and that the parcel is not within FEMA special flood hazard areas.

The decision will move forward to the full Augusta Commission for rehearing only if appealed; otherwise, the applicant may proceed with required permits and historic-preservation review before any change of use is implemented.

Ending: The commission approved the special exception with the 9 p.m. closing condition; any exterior construction or alterations will require historic-preservation approval and the usual site or building permits before the liquor sales can begin.","After public testimony and mixed votes, the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission approved a special exception to allow a liquor store at 2059 Central Avenue, setting a condition that liquor sales end at 9 p.m.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves small Richmond Hill subdivision rezoning for 14 homes with site-plan conditions

Augusta planning commission approves mixed-use PUD at Stevens Creek with design and parking conditions

Planning commission recommends rezoning for Gibson Road townhome project with density cut by 25%

Augusta planning commission approves liquor store special exception at Central Avenue with 9 p.m. closing