Commission approves rezoning to allow duplex on Lucky Street amid process questions

The Augusta Georgia Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning (Z-25-36) of two adjoining parcels at 1622–1624 Lucky Street from R1C to R2 to allow construction of a duplex, but commissioners and the petitioner discussed recent procedural changes that may require site-plan submission to engineering and could lengthen the review timeline.

Staff and the petitioner indicated the two 0.07-acre parcels would be combined to create a compliant 60-foot-wide lot (approximately 5,792 square feet), and the conceptual plan showed the duplex meeting R2 setbacks and providing four parking spaces (two per unit). Development Services Administrator Ashley Catterton said the request is consistent with the Old Augusta character-area recommendations in the 2023 comprehensive plan and noted public water and sanitary sewer availability.

Engineer Burke Yere, the petitioner’s representative, said the approval, variance and site-plan steps together could stretch approvals by 45 days or more if full engineering portal review is required; he asked why duplexes previously were treated with shorter plot-plan approvals. Commissioners pressed staff for clarification. Planning staff explained that engineering has recently asked to provide administrative site-plan review input on small multi-unit projects to ensure department feedback; that process uses the ePlan portal and can take 30–45 days. The petitioner agreed to the staff conditions listed in the recommendation.

Staff’s recommendation included combining the parcels before site-plan review, petitioning for a variance to reduce a side setback from seven feet to six feet, and a note that rezoning approval did not constitute site-plan approval. The commission approved the rezoning and the item will be forwarded to the full commission for final action.