Commission backs rezoning, plan‑development change to fold commercial parcels into “The Hive” PD

The North Augusta Planning Commission on Feb. 19 recommended that city council rezone about 25.59 acres from General Commercial (GC) to Planned Development (PD) and approved a linked plan‑development modification for the same parcels so they fall under the PD’s permitted uses.

Planning staff (Tommy Paradise) told the commission the two agenda items are linked and that bringing the parcels into the PD will ensure continuity across the larger Hive development and simplify regulation and enforcement. Staff said the parcels currently appear adjacent to the active Hive site but were not formally included in that PD; rezoning and the development plan modification would make their land‑use rules consistent with the rest of the PD and would add commercial square footage proportionate to the acreage added.

Developer representatives (John Engler; Sean Smith, Cranston Engineering) attended and supported the change. Engler told the commission that discussions with staff clarified the situation and that including the parcels in the PD “made a lot of sense” for project continuity. Commissioners asked about density and were told by staff and the developer that the rezoning would not change residential density in other parts of the PD because the parcel in question would be assigned commercial uses within the PD.

The commission moved and seconded a recommendation that council rezone Tax Parcel Nos. 001‑200‑001‑001 and 001‑200‑001‑002 (1141 West Martintown Road) to PD. The motion to recommend rezoning passed with no recorded opposition. The companion plan‑development modification (PDM24‑003) for the same parcels was also recommended to council on a unanimous vote with no conditions.

Votes at a glance: RZM24‑006 — recommend rezoning 25.59 acres to PD for parcels at 1141 West Martintown Road (motion passed); PDM24‑003 — recommend plan development modification for the same parcels (motion passed unanimously).