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Commissioners approve River North PUD amendment for 32 townhomes, contingent on water and sewer engineering
Summary
The Jones County Board of Commissioners approved a requested amendment to the River North plan unit development to allow 32 fee‑simple townhomes, but placed final permitting on hold until water and sewer engineering is completed and approved.
Jones County commissioners on April 1 approved a plan‑unit development amendment allowing Ocmulgee Property LLC to build 32 fee‑simple townhomes at the rear of Riverpointe Condominiums, but the approval is conditioned on county engineers and utilities verifying water and sewer capacity.
The vote authorizes a change to the River North PUD to permit 32 attached single‑family units on 5.2 acres at 632 Rivernorth Boulevard. Charles Adams, the applicant's representative, described the proposal as ‘‘full time permanent housing’’ and said the project includes two floor plans — 18 units of a 3‑bed, 3‑bath plan at about 1,634 square feet and 14 units of a 3‑bed, 2.5‑bath plan at about 1,409 square feet — with roughly 3.5 acres retained as open space and a 25‑foot vegetative perimeter buffer.
"This is designed to provide full time permanent housing," Adams told the board, adding that the units will be fee‑simple (not condominiums), governed by the River Communities Association, and served by county water and sewer, Georgia Power and GFL trash service.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff flagged the site’s limited sewer infrastructure. Planning‑and‑engineering review will determine whether the project can connect to a six‑inch water main adjacent to the condominiums and whether sewer service will be accommodated by upgrading the existing lift station or by installing grinder pumps at homeowner expense. The board’s approval makes rezoning/planned‑unit changes official but stops short of final building permits until utility capacity is confirmed.
Board discussion centered on capacity and process. Commissioner Kitchens said, "I like the design. I like the plan," but pressed staff on whether engineering would be required before permits are issued. County staff advised the board to approve the rezoning now and require that water and sewer issues be resolved before permitting; Tim, county staff, recommended "that a condition be placed that before permitting is allocated for or approved for the project, that water and sewer issues have been resolved satisfactorily for the county." The motion to approve with that condition carried on a voice vote.
Key details clarified at the meeting: the developer said renting would be generally prohibited except for hardship at the discretion of the River Communities board; unit floor plans and sizes were presented to the board; two sewer options are being studied (lift‑station upgrade versus grinder pumps), and a six‑inch water line adjacent to the site is the likely tap point. Planning Commission had recommended approval.
Next steps: engineering studies will determine whether the existing utilities must be upgraded and who will pay for required upgrades. The county’s planning and permitting review remains a prerequisite to any building permits.
Ending: The board approved the PUD amendment by voice vote and recorded the condition that water and sewer engineering must be satisfied before permitting can proceed.
