Planning commission denies rezoning for five-unit tiny-home project amid sewer, fire-response and aquifer concerns

Augusta — The Augusta Planning Commission on Jan. 6 recommended denial of a rezoning request that would have allowed a five-unit tiny-home community at 1412 House Bill McBean Road, citing infrastructure and plan-consistency problems and vocal neighborhood opposition.

Planning staff presented findings that the 0.92-acre proposal to rezone from R-3A to R-3B and allow the tiny-home community was not consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan and could not meet required standards without substantial changes. Staff noted there is no public sewer in the area and the applicant proposed an engineered septic system; the closest fire hydrant is more than 750 feet from the furthest unit, exceeding typical response-distance standards.

Resident speakers urged caution. Doug Lively, a neighbor and organizer of an area Facebook page, said the site is “a bad location” and warned the development could damage neighborhood character. Vicki Richardson, who said she had provided handouts about the local aquifer, described the aquifer as in a “high priority or critical” zone and warned that multiple septic systems could create a pollution plume that would affect drinking water. “We’re looking at not just the water problem ... but also a safety thing,” Richardson said.

Staff’s written findings listed multiple technical deficiencies in the concept plan, including missing required setbacks, incomplete parking and loading arrangements, absent dumpster enclosures, and a conceptual layout that did not demonstrate compliance with tree-island and parking-dimension requirements. The concept plan showed five 400-square-foot prefabricated units, some proposed at two stories, which staff noted would conflict with the 1.5-story limit for the zoning district unless modified.

After public comment and a brief applicant response, the commission moved to deny the rezoning. During the roll call, Commissioners Owens, Spencer, Larrison, Clark, McKnight, Prince, O’Neil and Davis voted to deny; Commissioner Cooks abstained. The chair announced the petition denied; the planning commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full Augusta Commission for final action on Jan. 20.

Applicant Shadee Kong told the commission after the vote that the site is currently zoned to permit multifamily development and that she has the financing to build an apartment complex if the tiny-home plan is not approved. “This is not a defeat ... I have my money to build a multi family apartment complex,” Kong said.

The commission also denied the companion special-exception petition tied to the tiny-home proposal; that action and the full record will likewise go to the Jan. 20 Augusta Commission meeting.