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BZA approves retrofit of nonconforming building at 1810 Gordon Highway for auto collision repair with fence condition
Summary
The Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing alterations that exceed 50% of assessed building value and reestablished a 6-foot rear setback at 1810 Gordon Highway to permit conversion to an automobile collision repair use, and required a 6-foot privacy fence along property lines adjacent to residential lots.
The Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance for 1810 Gordon Highway to allow renovations to a nonconforming building that exceed the 50% valuation threshold and to reestablish a 6-foot rear setback so the property can be adapted for automobile collision repair.
Brian Kepner, zoning administrator, told the board the property is roughly 2.26 acres and that the existing building — constructed in 1965 — sits within the required 25-foot rear-yard setback for light industrial zoning. "The existing nonconforming building has a rear yard setback of 6.1 feet where a 25 foot setback is required," Kepner said, and he explained that because proposed work exceeds 50% of the building's assessed value the board's approval was required before renovations could proceed.
Petitioner Tracy Bryant, who identified her address as Evans, Georgia, told the board: "We don't have any plans to expand on the back half of the property or the left side of the property…We're going to use the existing structure to be able to do what we need to do." Bryant said the applicant does not plan new buildings and intends to adapt the existing footprint for collision-repair operations.
Planning staff recommended denial because the petition did not meet all criteria in section 33 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance, but offered conditional approvals should the board choose to grant relief. The board approved the variance subject to staff conditions: (1) reestablish rear yard setback at 6 feet and allow the proposed alterations to exceed 50% of the assessed building value; and (2) install a 6-foot-high wood privacy fence along the west and south property lines abutting residentially zoned lots.
The applicant stated they were comfortable with the conditions. The board recorded the approval and staff will mail the formal decision letter to the applicant.
