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Planning commission denies special‑exception request for four‑client personal care home in Fairwood; sends denial to full commission
Summary
The commission voted to deny a special‑exception application to operate a four‑client family personal care home at 3120 Blackmon Court in Hephzibah and forwarded a denial recommendation to the full Augusta Commission after multiple neighborhood speakers opposed the request and the substitute motion to approve failed on roll call.
The Augusta Planning Commission voted to deny a special‑exception request to operate a family personal care home serving four clients at 3120 Blackmon Court and forwarded a denial recommendation to the full Augusta Commission.
Planning staff described SE‑26‑11 as an application by Civita REM Georgia 1 LLC on behalf of MGJHI LLC to operate a licensed family personal care home in a single‑family residence within the Fairwood subdivision. Staff said the request met design and siting criteria for a personal care home subject to conditions, and recommended approval with conditions including a successful code‑enforcement inspection prior to issuance of a business license, proof of a City of Augusta business license and state compliance paperwork, adherence to state Department of Community Health regulations, and a prohibition on signage.
Applicant Michelle Coleman, area director for Savita, said the organization operates several homes in the Augusta area and asked for support, emphasizing 24‑hour on‑site staffing for four clients.
Multiple neighbors and neighborhood leaders opposed the request during public comment. Octavia Holloway Collins, president of the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance, and other speakers said the site is in a residential area and voiced concerns about compatibility with surrounding houses, potential impacts on property values, and the lack of neighborhood outreach.
On the floor, a motion to deny was made. Commissioner Cooks offered a substitute motion to approve with staff recommendations; that substitute failed on roll call. The main motion to deny then passed on roll call and the commission voted to send a denial recommendation to the full commission.
The planning commission’s action means the full Augusta Commission will consider the denial recommendation at its next meeting; the matter will proceed through the commission process rather than be approved at the planning stage. Staff noted that a successful code‑enforcement inspection and compliance with state rules would be required for licensing if approval were to be considered in the future.
