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Board approves major waiver to alter Rose Hill street plan amid resident traffic concerns
Summary
The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a major waiver for the Rose Hill subdivision to remove a cul‑de‑sac and adopt a concept connection that shortens block length; the approval is conditioned on following the 02/03 revised preliminary plat. Residents raised traffic, buffering and runoff concerns.
At its February meeting the North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to grant a major waiver for the Rose Hill subdivision that will allow the developer to alter the street layout and remove a cul‑de‑sac in favor of a connected loop.
The waiver, filed as MW25.005 by Landmark Investments, sought relief from the North Augusta Development Code Table 10.2 maximum block‑length standard for local streets. Staff presented a revised preliminary plat showing a connection that shortens the block length and keeps roadway grades below the 12% maximum; staff recommended approval conditional on the waiver following the concept shown on the 02/03 revised preliminary plat.
Applicant Matthew Eshelbock told the board the site’s slopes made the original cul‑de‑sac design difficult to build. “If you’ve ever had a slope on a road that’s around 12% and you’re trying to put slab on grades basically on a flat lot, you know, that’s pretty challenging,” he said, explaining the team prepared the interconnection as a practical alternative.
Several nearby residents spoke during public comment, urging caution about traffic that would be directed onto Old Edgefield Road and asking about the number of homes and access points. Michelle Wilson described the original plan as “untenable” and questioned the original block length figure, asking, “Wasn’t it 2,600 or 2,700?” Staff and the applicant explained the revised plan adds additional entry points (including an extension of Talisman Drive) and materially shortens the block length while acknowledging a major waiver remained necessary.
The board read the major‑waiver criteria from the North Augusta Development Code (section 18.8.5), found the request met the minimal‑waiver and permitted‑use standards, and approved the waiver with the condition that the approval follow the concept shown in the 02/03 revised preliminary plat. Bill Burkhalter made the motion to approve and the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous raised hands.
Next steps: the application will proceed to prerequisite engineering reviews and later to the planning commission for preliminary plat approval and public review, where drainage, grading, and final landscaping will be considered.
