Planning commission approves special exception for paintball facility on Mike Paget Highway

The Augusta Planning Commission approved a special exception to allow a paintball recreational facility at 5250 Mike Paget Highway on a 28‑acre site currently zoned agricultural.

Brian Kepner, Zoning Administrator, presented the application and said the applicant proposes to use roughly nine acres of the property for paintball fields; the remainder includes wetlands and floodplain associated with McBean Creek. Because recreational facilities require a special exception in agricultural zones, staff evaluated the application against section 26‑1 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance and recommended approval with conditions.

Petitioner Kenneth Rayburn and co‑applicant Valerie Spratlin told the commission the paint is non‑toxic and biodegradable, fields will be netted and staged areas fenced to prevent wandering, and operations will be daylight hours only. Spratlin said the closest playing field is around 75 feet from McBean Creek but is separated by a wooded buffer and berms; she added that each playing field would be netted with at least 12 feet of netting.

Staff recommended approval with ten conditions: compliance with the Augusta tree ordinance; a minimum 100‑foot undisturbed buffer on all sides; paintball shooting limited to the fields and daylight hours (applicant requested hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.); protective gear for participants; downward‑directed lighting if any is used; a fence along the property line adjacent to the railroad; prohibition on discharging paint or cleaning materials into land or waterways and completion of an initial environmental impact review through code enforcement.

The petitioner accepted the staff conditions and the commission approved the special exception by voice vote.