North Augusta staff seek annexation of 67.45 acres off Hammond Pond Road for single‑family development

Assistant City Administrator J.D. McCauley said the planning commission had given a “positive recommendation for annexing plus or minus 67.45 acres for Hammond Pond Road,” to be zoned R‑14 for single‑family detached homes and proposing about 94 lots.

Planning and Development Director Tommy Paradise emphasized that the current action is for annexation only and does not include site‑plan or preliminary‑plat approval. “This is just the annexation,” Paradise said, noting that subsequent development review will address internal streets, emergency access and utilities.

Councilmembers raised traffic and access concerns. McCauley and Paradise said the primary entrance would be Hammond Pond Road and noted the proposal currently showed a single public access. Paradise and other councilmembers discussed seeking additional interconnections to adjacent neighborhoods — Chanticleer/Renfield and the Rapids — to improve circulation and emergency access. “If we could get a connection there as well, that would be good for all three of those neighborhoods,” Paradise said, citing past incidents when downed trees temporarily blocked access to the Rapids.

McCauley told council the planning commission heard no opposition at its hearing and voted unanimously in favor. He described the parcel as a “donut hole” surrounded by developed neighborhoods and said the annexation was requested primarily so the developer can obtain city water and sewer.

No formal vote by the council on the annexation was recorded in the transcript.