The Augusta City Council on Dec. 15 approved the final plat and drainage plan for Redbud Ridge (case 2025-22), a 4.4-acre infill residential project that will include about 22 residential units across 19 lots under R-3 zoning.

City planning staff also presented an updated housing needs assessment prepared by Canyon Research Southwest, which raised the city’s reported housing need since the 2020 assessment. Staff summarized the study’s finding that the low estimate of needed units rose from 122 in 2020 to about 219 in the 2025 update, and that the high estimate rose from 249 to 353, leading staff to report an estimated need of roughly 219–353 new housing units by 2030. The study also reported rental properties operating at about 98% occupancy.

Council approved the housing needs assessment and then approved Resolution 2025-27 designating Redbud Ridge as a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID). Staff explained that RHID establishment is a multi-step statutory process: after establishing the district, the city schedules hearings, prepares an RHID development plan and cost estimates, may issue temporary notes to fund infrastructure, and submits for state-level review and approval as required. Staff and the developer described a realistic timeline of design and financing steps with possible infrastructure construction in mid–2026 depending on approvals and engineering work.

A developer representative, Owen Shigley of 10 Oak Investments LLC, spoke about project timing and said home construction likely targets 2026 for infrastructure and later phases for homes.

What this does: designation as an RHID allows the city and developer to use special-assessment financing and temporary notes to fund public infrastructure (water, sewer, streets, stormwater, electric) and to pair state housing incentives like HITC where feasible. Additional specific financing and developer agreements will return to council for action.

(Authorities: Housing study by Canyon Research Southwest; RHID statutory process and local resolutions.)