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Commission approves major site plan for new North Augusta Middle School with conditions
Summary
The commission approved SP25-004, a three‑phase plan to build a new North Augusta Middle School (about 76,000 sq ft) with phased demolition, new drive loop, and 176 paved parking spaces; staff required outstanding comments be addressed to their satisfaction.
The North Augusta Planning Commission approved a major site plan (SP25-004) for a replacement and addition project at North Augusta Middle School after hearing presentations from the architect and the school district's facilities director and receiving public questions about traffic, roofing and solar options.
Staff described the project as a three‑phase effort: construct the new school (phase 1), demolish the older portion (phase 2), and create a new driveway loop and additional parking (phase 3). Staff said the proposal calls for a total of 176 paved parking spaces, reconfigured drop-off/pick-up circulation, and screened parking adjacent to residential areas, and recommended approval contingent on resolving remaining staff comments.
Architect Hadsden Hildebrand (presenting for the design firm) walked commissioners through the plan, including two two-story connectors between levels, preservation of some newer classroom areas during the transition, and site grading and re-striping to improve stacking and traffic flow. "The plan is to basically build a new middle school down on the lower level...We do those loops all over the place," Hildebrand said, noting the design has been submitted to and reviewed by S.C. DOT and the district office.
Mike Jara, the district's executive director of facilities construction, said the design uses native brick to reflect North Augusta's history and that the building is roughly 76,000 square feet. The district and applicant described a stacking length they estimated would provide approximately 3,400 feet of on-site stacking to reduce back-ups on Old Edgefield Road.
During public comment, resident Michelle Wilson said she supported a new school but asked whether a flat roof could be a leak risk and whether solar panels had been considered. District staff responded that parapet walls and slight roof pitch and roof drains were included to manage water, and that solar had been discussed but was not included because the project did not show a feasible return on investment and the constrained 13-acre site limited options.
A motion to approve the major site plan, with the condition that outstanding staff comments be addressed to the satisfaction of city staff, was moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote.
Next steps: Applicant to address remaining staff comments and coordinate construction phasing with the district and public-safety staff to minimize neighborhood impact during construction.
