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Augusta planners recommend rezoning 204 East 5th Avenue to local commercial
Summary
The Augusta Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning 204 East 5th Avenue from R-3 (multifamily) to C-2 (local commercial), citing neighborhood compatibility and current commercial use; the case advances to City Council on Oct. 7, 2024.
The Augusta Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a zoning district reclassification for 204 East 5th Avenue, changing the parcel from R-3 (multifamily residential) to C-2 (local commercial).
Planning staff told the commission the property was rezoned in 2021 from C-3 to R-3 to allow an eight-unit market-rate apartment project that did not materialize. "Instead, the property is now being utilized as rental space for a plumbing contractor," planning staff said, identifying the occupant as Suder Plumbing and noting the business is in the process of acquiring the building with written approval from the current owner on file with Butler County records.
Staff reviewed the city's "golden factors" for rezoning and said the parcel is surrounded by downtown commercial, general commercial and multifamily residential districts and that the proposed C-2 designation aligns with the Augusta Action Comprehensive Plan 2020–2040. Staff also told commissioners that utilities (electric, wastewater and water) are adequate for the proposed commercial use and that no new roads would be required. "Public hearing notices were sent out on August 19, 2024, and staff had not received any public responses as of September 5, 2024," staff said.
Commission discussion focused on the property's zoning history and a GIS discrepancy: a staff member explained that early GIS records showed the parcel as C-3 and later staff discovered the 2021 rezoning to R-3, prompting the current application. A commissioner asked whether Suder Plumbing approached staff before occupying the building; staff said the move and the follow-up permitting and GIS corrections happened close in time.
Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve RZ2024-08; Commissioner (speaker 4) seconded. The motion passed by voice vote. Planning staff said the commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Augusta City Council for consideration on Oct. 7, 2024.
Votes at a glance: motion to recommend approval — moved by Commissioner (speaker 2), seconded by Commissioner (speaker 4); outcome: recommendation to approve and forward to City Council.
