Sandersville council approves special exception to allow townhomes on North Avenue

The Sandersville City Council on Feb. 2 unanimously approved Request #2026-01, a special exception to change lot-size and setback requirements in the R2 zone for parcel #S18-002 on North Avenue, allowing DeepSouth Builders to develop townhomes on the site.

Ben Avant, the city's building and zoning manager, told the council that the Planning & Zoning Committee had recommended approval at its Jan. 26 meeting on the condition that driveways be reconfigured to allow two-car parking.

Developer Mike Ware of DeepSouth Builders said the parcel was about two acres and that he was trying "to bring affordable housing to the area." He told the council there was "no plan for overflow parking," and that the proposed units would be about 1,451 square feet with three bedrooms and two and a half baths. Ware said the pre-appraisal value for each unit was about $239,000 and that he hoped to complete construction about 90 days after breaking ground, with pre-sales and local bank financing in progress.

Council Member Mayme Dennis pressed parking and design questions, asking whether the townhomes could be moved closer to the street or whether a common overflow parking area could be carved out; Ware said no to overflow parking. After discussion, Council Member Dennis moved to approve the special exception; Council Member Ben Salter seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The property is currently owned by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The minutes do not record building-permit timelines, construction financing details beyond Ware's statements, or final unit counts beyond the developer's description.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: the council approved the special exception; the developer may proceed with site plans and any required permitting at the city and county level.