North Augusta BZA tables light-industrial request after applicant says store will be showroom-only

The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 4 tabled an application seeking permission to operate a light-industrial marble, granite and stone business at 1815 Knox Avenue. The applicant, Oberon Tiveros, told the board he intends the location to serve mainly as a showroom and that any cutting or fabrication would be conducted elsewhere. "We're not gonna be cutting anything... We're not gonna make any dust or nothing like that," Tiveros said after being sworn in.

Staff had presented the application as a conditional light-industrial use and noted the supporting packet indicated fabrication activities, which prompted board questioning about whether the operation would include on-site manufacturing. Staff told the board that if no fabrication occurs and the business is limited to retail sales, the proposed use would fall under retail allowed in the general commercial (GC) district and would not require a special exception.

Members weighed options — approve, deny, table or allow the applicant to withdraw — and expressed concern about the discrepancy between the application materials and the applicant's statement at the hearing. The board ultimately voted to table the application so the applicant may operate a storefront but must return if on-site fabrication is later proposed. The motion to table was made on the record and seconded; the chair closed the public hearing on that item.

The public packet and board discussion also identified a clerical error in the published materials: the property address in the notice text did not match Knox Avenue due to a cut-and-paste mistake, though staff said surrounding property owners at the Knox address had been notified.

Next steps: the applicant may proceed as a retail storefront consistent with staff guidance; any future change to include fabrication on-site will require the applicant to return to the board for formal review.