Planning commission denies 72‑unit Goshen Circle townhome rezoning and related subdivision variance after strong neighborhood opposition

Augusta Planning Commission on April 2 denied a rezoning request (Z‑25‑17) and a related subdivision variance that would have allowed a 72‑unit townhome development with a single entrance on Goshen Circle. The denial followed staff findings that the project exceeds allowable cumulative access limits and a traffic engineering recommendation against the variance.

Brian Kepner, zoning administrator, presented the application and noted the tract is about 11.31 acres; the concept plan proposed 72 attached townhome lots, a density of 6.3 dwelling units per acre, 32% open space and extension of Goshen Circle by roughly 1,400 feet to loop through the site. Kepner said public sanitary sewer would need to be extended roughly 125 feet and that the cumulative lot count for Goshen Retreat (95 existing lots) plus the proposed 72 units would total 187, triggering the subdivision regulation that requires two entrances for contiguous developments…