Augusta Planning Commission approves multiple plats and rezoning requests, denies subdivision variance

The Augusta Planning Commission on Wednesday approved two final plats, granted rezoning for three petitions, postponed four developer petitions to April and denied a subdivision-variance request, staff and commissioners said.

The commission approved final plats S-960 (Brittany Oaks) and S-952 (Worthington), approved rezoning requests Z-25-03 and Z-25-04 (a 44.99-acre JBC Construction proposal for single-family homes with a commercial frontage), approved Z-25-05 (Back to Nature Garden Center) and Z-25-06 (conversion of a historic building on Telfair Street to multiunit residential). The commission denied subdivision variance SV-25-01, which would have created a landlocked 4-acre parcel from a 47.4-acre tract at 4475 Ederley Road.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for a 159-unit single-family subdivision with a commercial buffer along Mike Padgett Highway, expansion of a garden-center business to include a bistro, petting zoo, limited campsite and event space, and a small historic-building conversion to apartments. The denial of the subdivision variance preserves the county requirement that lots have direct access to a public road unless a compliant private-road solution is recorded and constructed, staff said.

Most significant items and staff conditions

- Z-25-03 (JBC Construction / Jeb Bogus Properties LLC): Staff recommended and the commission approved rezoning a combined 34.99 acres from agricultural, manufactured-home residential and light industrial to R-1D single-family residential, with roughly 10 acres along Mike Padgett Highway reserved for general commercial uses. Staff listed conditions including that density not exceed 4.6 units per acre, the development provide at least 17% open space, alternating home elevations with at least nine facades, sidewalks on both sides of internal streets, and that amenities be 50% complete by the time 50% of certificates of occupancy have been issued. Kevin Boyd, development services manager, summarized the concept plan and told the commission the site is consistent with the 2023 Comprehensive Plan for South Augusta. The applicant, Jeb Bogus, spoke to price targets and ownership model: “right now they're…