Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

I thought you

they laugh. Yeah, cuz you be

turn. Now I want you to do [laughter]

[laughter] I got it. I'm good. She all right.

Y'all ready? All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the November Planning Commission meeting. We will call this meeting to order here at 300 p.m. Um staff, you can read the opening statement.

Good afternoon. The Augusta, Georgia Planning Commission is a recommended body. The final decision on all zoning matters coming before it will be made by the Augusta Commission on Tuesday, November the 18th, 2025 at 2 p.m. in the Augusta Commission chambers at the municipal building. The planning commission makes the final decisions on all variances, including subdivision regulations. A handout describing the zoning procedures by which these cases are decided, is available upon request. These procedures also require that any applicant for a reasonzoning action or any opponent to an application for a resoning action who has made contributions aggregating $250 or more to a local government official within two years of the resoning application. to file a disclosure report with the governing authority. The disclosure report must be filed within 10 calendar days of filing the application in at least 10 calendar days prior to today's hearing. A minimum of 10 minutes shall be afforded for the presentation of data, evidence, and opinions on each side of a resulting petition or a special exception. If more than 10 minutes is afforded to one side, then the equal amount of time shall be afforded to the other side. The commission encourages participation in this hearing and there is no restrictions on who may address the commission within the allotted time. But the commission asks that the public's comments be brief on subject and non-repetitive and directed to the commission, not to any individual or group. [cough] All right, that's that's all. Okay, thank you. Um, so let's do this. First, we have a request to withdraw um agenda item number two, which is um a subdivision variance. So, if we could hear that first from staff and then um chair would entertain a motion.

Okay. Okay. All right. Number two, S SV-25-03, a petition by Jennifer Heath on behalf of Elaine Cook requesting a subdivision variance to create a manufactured home lot from section 45F of the land subdivision regulation to create a 20.97 acre landlock parts affecting properties containing approximately 26.68 acres located at 538 Henderson Road. All right. Is there um is there a motion to withdraw this petition without prejudice? Motion to withdraw without prejudice. Second. Second.

It's been moved and properly seconded to withdraw this petition without prejudice. Um all in favor. All right. No. Same right. All right. This item will be withdrawn without prejudice. Okay. Now, let's take the remaining agenda items from top to bottom.

Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. Starting off with number one, Z-25-35, a petition by Connect Development LLC, on behalf of MRP Residential 1 LLC, requesting a reszoning from zoning R1A, one family residential to zoning R1E, one family residential, to develop a town home community affecting properties containing approximately 4.28 acres located at 1901 Bungalow Road. Staff will present Good afternoon. Ashley Kton, development services administrator. The applicant is seeking to reszone a 4.28 acre tract that's from R1A to R1E to develop a town home community. This development involves nine existing residential lots in the Hillrest Memorial neighborhood. The primary road frontages affected would be Richmond Hill Road and Bungalow Road. The concept plan presented with the resoning application proposes the following. 28 attached single family homes, an overall density of approximately 7.3 units per acre, development along two existing public streets, one storm water detention pond that's planned. Open space of 42,689 square ft, which is approximately 25.6% 6% open space. And according to the 2023 comprehensive plan, uh this property is located within South Augusta character area. And the vision for this um this the vision for South Augusta character area includes um continued mix of housing types at low to medium density um to preserve the suburban style single family residential character that is predominant in this

area. Recommended development patterns for South Augusta character area include maintaining low density single family residential development in areas where it is already predominant land use infill residential development at densities compatible with the surrounding area and place to additional commercial development at major intersections. findings. There are no recent zoning history for There's no recent zoning history for the properties. The properties have nearby access to public water and sanitary sewer systems. Uh the according to GD do uh the these roads are classified as both local roads. So for Bungalow Road and Richmond Hill Road, according to the preliminary traffic impact worksheet, traffic engineering has determined that a full traffic study analysis will be necessary for the proposed development. There the nearest development bus stop is approximately 1,712 ft from the subject properties. Um, according to FEMA flood insurance maps, the properties are not located within um the special flood hazard area. According to the Augusta Richmond County GIS map layers, there are no wetlands located on this property. Adjacent zoning districts to the north include R1A and R3B. To the east are zoned R1A and R and R3B and P1. and to the west and south is zoned R1A. The proposed change in zoning to R1E would be consistent with a 2023 comprehensive plan. And at the time of completion of this report, staff have received notifications of opposition concerning this resoning application. And for engineering and utilities

comments, traffic engineering comments, as stated, a full traffic impact study analysis will be required. Engineering comments, roads do not meet Augusta, Georgia's standards. No retention ponds allowed. Must be detention. All parking must be paved. And for utilities, there is a 6-in water line and an 8in sewer line on Richmond Hill Road available for their use. And that concludes staff's presentation. Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right, sir. If you can just come up and give us your name, um, your address, and any new details on your petition.

Thank you, Chairman Poozer. My name is Jim Troder. My address is 3615 Walton Extension, and I am here today to represent Connect Development uh, [snorts] in connection with this application. Um, they are seeking to do a um, single family town home community. The density is under eight units an acre. It's actually 7.3 units an acre. Um I heard in the premeating that there was a concern about grave sites located on the far northwestern corner and certainly there are some there. Um they will not be disturbed. They can't be disturbed legally. Um once if this is approved today and by the full commission in two weeks, we'll have a full survey done to locate all of those graves specifically and a buffer will be built around them. And it may it will it already has impacted the development some. It may impact it a little bit more depending on what graves are found within the tree lines as you mentioned earlier. For sure. Um, it was mentioned in there in the preliminary meeting that the road is a one-way road. That's not quite accurate. It's two ways coming in off Richmond Hill Road. And the length of the road is two-way, but to meet what we believe are going to be the traffic requirements, it's just one way right out only on Bungalow Road is what's been designed to limit the impact there since it's relatively close to that intersection of Richmond Hill and Bungalow Road. Um, we have reviewed the conditions. We understand that we still need to work with the engineering department on a few details within the development, the rightway width and also having a traffic analysis done. We intend to do so, but as are mo most things these days, those items all cost a whole lot of money, and we want to make sure we can get the zoning done first before undertaking those. I'm happy to answer any questions

any of you may have, but um we do believe that this will be a good development. It's consistent with what is in the area already. There are a number of R3 multif family zonings in the immediate area and we're seeking an R1e multif family zoning for town homes. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Trouter. Commissioners, do you have questions of the petitioner? Commissioner Spencer?

Yes. I was mainly concerned about if you were coming from Richmond Hill. When they told me it was one way, I was it was it was good, but two-way coming from there and making a left turn on Richmond Hill just as you go into that curve. Would that only be a right way onto Rich from Richmond Hill Road also? No. Coming into the development on the far south side of it from Richmond Hill Road is full access in I'm I'm Okay. Okay. Maybe I misunderstood your question. I'm sorry. Right. That wasn't really my question. I'm concerned about left turns at that point. Right there.

Well, we're going to do an a traffic analysis as well as directed by the engineering department to see what would exactly be required there. believe it meets my understanding preliminarily is that it meets the width the the set excuse me the distance required from that intersection to have that left out on Richmond Hill Road. So if you're coming out of the development, you're leaving, you can either turn right on Bungalow Road or go to Richmond Hill Road and turn left or right.

Okay. Well, I just had some concerns on because Richmond Hill Road when you're coming down heading towards Gordon Highway, that traffic be moving and I just can't imagine a car coming out and trying to make a left at that pop that spot right there. Well, if they're heading that way south, they can also go up to Bungalow Road and go right and go back around. Well, they could if they for sure, but they may not choose that.

They may not. Additional comments or questions for the petitioner? All right, seeing none, anybody in the audience um object to this petition? All right. Similarly, um anybody in support? [clears throat] My clients are here. They're in support. All right. [laughter] Okay. All right. Well, we'll move to staff recommendations.

All right. The planning development staff recommends approval of the reszoning request to R1E one family residential with the following conditions. Number one, development must have alternative elevation with a at least three different facads alternating and none of with more than 30% Bside along the front facade. Sidewalks are required on both sides of the streets within the subdivision. Number three, guest parking shall be evenly dispersed throughout the development and not exceed four consecutive spaces. Number four, the development must comply with all aspects of the Augusta tree ordinance. Number five, the 10 foot undisturbed tree buffer shall encompass the overall site plan site along the side and rear boundaries. Development must provide at least 25% open space. Such space may include common areas, buffers, landscape yards, water feature areas, and any natural areas. However, detention ponds do not count towards this requirement. A 6-foot privacy fence must be installed in the rear yards of the home that about Richmond Hill Road. Existing roadways adjacent to the development must be approved to Augusta Engineering Standards. A full traffic impact study analyst is required for this development. Approval of this resoning request does not constitute approval of the conceptual site plan submitted with the resoning application. The proposed development shall obtain site plans approval in compliance with the site plan regulations of Augusta, Georgia prior to construction commencement of this property. The development of this property shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forth by the city of Augusta Richmond County, Georgia as amended at this time of development. This concludes staff recommendation. Does the petitioner accept those recommendations?

I would like to ask a question of staff. Is that Yeah, absolutely. Commissioner Spencer, um at the preliminary meeting, we were told it was one way. Is there any way I can make a um a suggestion that it it's still continue to be one way in coming in from Richmond Hill Road and going out to Bungalow? I think it's a great um I just and they they've still got to do a traffic study. So it would be dependent upon

I understood that but it was just even in lie of a traffic study. I just think that we have to consider it. This just such a bad spot to have traffic coming out making a left turn. So I wanted to add that as a recommendation that it was just one way as as how it was proposed to us at our

Commissioner Spencer. We can certainly consider it. I have not reviewed the one-way street regulations or ordinance. There is one in place, I believe. I have not recom reviewed that lately to see if this would apply to it, but I'm not sure. Um I'm not familiar with any other sub newer subdivisions with just a one-way street like that. Um but certainly the the traffic study may require a del lane coming in. Certainly not. It's only we're only talking about 27 units. We're not talking about a whole lot of new traffic. We certainly want to take that into to consideration, but I think a one-way street would be overly restrictive on this one.

So, again, I think that they'll be required to do a traffic study. I'm sure that traffic study will give, you know, reveal some things and um give some guidance, but Commissioner Spencer, I think that um you know, if you would like, you could make a motion with though with that added recommendation. I would like to make a motion with that added. Wait for let's um so to the petitioner, do you accept the recommendations that the staff have provided? Yes. All right. Now, the chair will entertain a motion.

I would like to make a substitute motion with it continue to be a one-way street. That is a bad spot. not for the people that's that it's for everyone coming down Richmond Hill Road and and I just I think it's a great project and I'm glad that you all are looking at single family homes in the area and building those town homes, but um I just think it's an unsafe spot for the for people to be coming out of of that small town home community making a left turn onto Richmond Hill Road.

Okay, so D and I'll just add this one other comment. I'm sure as y'all are aware engineering department wants every single road to be 60 feet of right away which really doesn't make a lot of sense but it's adhered to by to do a development really for on a street like this a smaller development 40 or 50 foot right away is entirely appropriate but the engineering department just won't budge on that if the engineering department would give us a 30 or 40 foot rightway and allow these units to be a little bit bigger and allow for more green space a one-way road may work and we certainly would like to investigate that. But if it's got to be a 60-foot right away, that's a huge ride of way for a private street like this in a small subdivision like this. It's a huge right ofway, but that's just that's they don't move on that right now. Um, if it's got to be a 60-oot rideway, you're giving up a lot of developable land and there's plenty of room for two-way traffic. I understand your concern as well. We're happy to investigate that, but for that to work, I think the right-of-way requirements would have to be shrunk a good bit. Okay. So, with it being said, Commissioner Spencer, do you want to move forward with your main motion to um approve this with an additional recommendation?

I want to move forward with my main motion. I can be on record as stating that I support this project, but not with it being a two-way road. So, yes, I would like to move forward with the motion. Commissioner O'Neal, I have a question from staff. Are are we able to impose that on two traffic engineers?

So, this is a condition that is coming from the commission. you're at will to you know agree to any conditions that you uh come up with. But uh ultimately if it contradicts what the uh tax traffic assessment comes up with it it may trigger this going back through the process to correct any you know issues uh with the implementation of the plan. So just keep that in mind. Any conditions that you come up with if it contradicts the engineering or the uh traffic uh study is is going to probably

I don't want it to come back. But I guess what I'm saying is we were told that it was going to be one way. So it was easy to see how supporting this project would be great. Yeah. Um I would suggest leave it to the experts, but you you guys could certainly make that that call. Um it's relevant. with what staff is saying because I'm not a contractor in any means or so um I'm going to withdraw my So you going to resend your motion? Yes. Okay. All right. So, Commissioner Spencer sending her motion. Is there a motion from commissioners on this particular petition? Motion to approve with conditions. Second. Second.

All right. Has been properly moved and seconded um to approve this petition. All in favor? Oppos? Have the same right. All right. This petition is approved. All right. Let's go to agenda item number three. Okay.

Z-25-38. A petition by Earl Allen Thompson's Jr. on behalf of ANW Enterprise LLC requesting a reszoner from zone P1 P-1 Professional Office to zone R-1 C1 family residential for an existing residence affecting property containing approximately 0.1 acres located at 801 Crawford Crawford Avenue, excuse me. Staff represent

Amanda Cruz, planner one. The applicant seeks to reszone a 0.1 acre parcel from P1 professional office to R1C1 family residential with the intention of continuing to rent the home to tenants situated at the corner of Crawford A and Star Street. The property contains a house that was built in 1911 and is approximately 1,557 square ft in size. According to the 2023 comprehensive plan, the property is located in the Old Augusta character area. The 2023 comprehensive plan's vision for the Old Augusta character area is to maintain and enhance its historic character and unique mix of land uses while maintaining stability in established neighborhoods. Previous resoning action Z06-62 requested to change the zoning from R1C1 family residential to P1 professional office for an inhome therapy office. This was approved by the Augusta Commission in June of 2006 with one condition. The condition of approval of the previous resoning action Z06-62 was that the property be used as an inhome therapy office as described by the petitioner or those uses allowed in an R1C zone. According to the FEMA flood insurance rate maps firm, the property is not located within a special flood hazard area. According to the Augusta Richmond County GIS map layer, there are no wetlands located on the property. The nearest public transit stop is located approximately 712 ft away near the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Walton Way. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation state functional classification map of 2017, Crawford Avenue is classified as a minor arterial route and Star Street is classified as a local road. The property has access to both public water and public sanitary sewer. The

adjacent zoning d districts uh to the north and west are a mix of R1 C and B1 neighborhood business. Properties to the west are mostly R1C. Properties to the south are a mix of R1C, P1, and B1 neighborhood business. The proposed change to R1C would be consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan. And at the time of completion of report, uh staff have not received any inquiries regarding the petition as advertised. We received um comments from utilities and they stated that the home is currently single family and remains single family. There are no changes needed. That concludes staff presentation.

All right. Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right, sir. If you come forward and give us your name, address, and any additional details on your petition. Thank you. Uh my name is Alan Thompson or Alan Thompson Jr. 226 Marrymont Drive, Martes through 907. Uh petitioning today just to return the residence to its previous zoning to be consistent with the area uh R1C.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Commissioners, you have questions of the petitioner. All right. Seeing none, anybody in the audience support this petition? All right, sir. Would you like to come forward and express your support? Okay, we just gonna note it. All right, anybody in the audience object? [laughter] All right, see you done. Staff recommendations. All right, the planning and development staff recommends approval of the reszoning request to R1C. That concludes staff recommendation. All right. Do you accept those recommendations, sir? Yes, sir. Absolutely. All right. Chair will entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Second.

All right. It's been properly moved and second to approve this particular petition. All in favor?

All right. Oppose. Ain't right. All right. Your petition has been approved, sir. Be moved forward to the full commission. Thank you. All right. Let's proceed to the next agenda item. All right. Z-25-39. A petition by Al all in for Miller Inc. requesting a reszoning from zoning R1 C one family residential to zone R2 two family residential to develop a duplex affecting properties containing approximately 0.11 acres located at 1012 Miller Street staff will present

Manda Cruz planner one this resoning application request is to reszone a 0.11 acre property located at 1012 Miller Street from R1C1 family residential to R2 to family residential to develop a duplex. The intent of the duplex is to serve as a home away from home for families seeking treatment for pediatric cancer. According to the 2023 comprehensive plan, the property is located within the Old Augusta character area. Uh the vision for the old Augusta character area reflects um to maintain and enhance its historic character and unique mix of land uses while maintaining stability in established areas. Redevelopment should include the removal of deteriorated and dilapidated structures. uh construct or rehabilitation of single family housing, new medium and highdensity housing, additional commercial and office development, new civic and institutional facilities. The request supports the rehabilitation of the old Augusta character area by establishing new medium density housing and therefore is consistent with the recommendations of the 2023 comprehensive plan update. Section 15-4B for R2 zoning in the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires a minimum size of 2500 square ft per dwelling unit for a total of 5,000 square ft. The 0.11 acre property is approximately 4,792 square feet and does not meet the size requirement. Section 15-4C for the R2 zoning in the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires a minimum lot width of 50 ft. The property measures 40 ft in width which does not meet this requirement.

The conceptual site plan submitted with the application for the proposed duplex shows that the proposed location of the structure would meet setback requirements for R2 zoning. The conceptual building plan submitted with the application for the proposed duplex show that uh the proposed size of the duplex would not exceed the maximum 40% allowed lot coverage requirement in the R2 zoning. The conceptual site plan submitted with the application for the proposed duplex shows that the entrances to the dwellings will be facing north and south ends of the property. R2 zoning in the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires two parking spaces per dwelling unit for a minimum of four parking spaces. The revised conceptual site plan u which is on the screen submitted with the application shows the four parking spaces required. There's an existing sidewalk across uh the north side of this block on Miller Street. The property has access to both portable water and public sanitary sewer. According to the FEMA flood insurance rate maps firm, the property is not located within a special flood hazard area. According to the Augusta Richmond County GIS map layer, there are no wetlands located on the property. Public transit is available on 12th Street, less than a quarter mile walking distance from the property. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation state functional classification map of 2017, Miller Street is classified as a local road. The surrounding properties on this block are zoned R1C1 family residential consisting of single family homes on the lot, ranging in size from approximately 0.06 acres to 0.11 acres with the church across Miller Street and church related activities adjacent to the east of the property. Though the property does not meet the minimum requirements for resoning to R2, the proposed resoning itself would be consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan. At the time of

completion of the report, staff have not received any inquiries regarding the petition as advertised. We did receive uh comments from traffic engineering. They would like to have the sidewalk repaired along the front uh property frontage, which is the sidewalk um along Miller Street. Engineering has stated that they must have site plan submission um if this were to get reszoned and utilities um has provided a few comments. Um so just bear with me. Uh they have stated there is a 6in water line and an 8 in water line on Miller Street that is available for their use. A site plane may be needed. See below. The following conditions will require a sight plan submittal. These conditions are a site plan will be needed if you add or upsize a water tap or sewer tap that Augusta utilities construction and maintenance department will not make for your site and requires a contractor to make those taps. A site plan will be needed if you are a multif family if you are multif family regard less the number residences and any tap is needed and item number one above occurs. A site plan will be needed if your site is not currently compliant with backflow requirements. A site plan will be needed if you add fire protection, irrigation, extend a water or sewer main, add or replace a grease trap, and or add or replace an oil water separator. A site plan will be needed if you convert an existing structure into something other than what it currently is, such as converting residential to commercial, converting a structure to a restaurant, a structure to a retirement facility, a structure to a home healthcare facility, etc. This does not cover new subdivisions or new commercial sites. Uh, no other approvals override these

requirements for Augusta utilities. This will include new utilities submitted to on architect plans. Any utility additions or deletions will need a site plan submitted for review by a civil engineer. If for some reason a development gets approval without meeting the above requirements by another department and any of these items above are needed, then it does not eliminate a site plan being submitted even if it may cause a delay in the construction. AUD is not responsible for other departments approvals that seem to override or overlook AUD's requirements. AUD retains the right to place a stop work order on a site that is not in compliance with AUD requirements until a site plan and corrections are completed. It is up to the developer to determine what they are proposing to do with their site and how it fits into these requirements and submit plans accordingly. That concludes staff presentations. Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right. If you come forward and give us your name, your address, and any additional details on your project.

Good afternoon. Uh my name is Aland Grover. I live at 2910 Adore Lane in Evans, Georgia. Um I am here today just to present our um I guess our vision. So just a little bit of a background. Um my husband and I are um moved here about 13 years ago. Our youngest son Miller um was diagnosed with a brain tumor and unfortunately lost his battle at the age of four. Um through that journey over those two years um we did a lot of our treatment here in Augusta at the children's hospital but then also um spent a year in the hospital in Atlanta and then six weeks in Houston, Texas. And during that time we were separated from our family. He and I were there. My husband, we have two older daughters um that are 19 and 16 were here. And we were fortunate enough that there was a family back from where I'm from, Anderson, South Carolina, that had a condo in Atlanta, and they lent us that condo and we were able to stay there. Um my husband and I could switch times. I would stay in the hospital, he would stay there. Our girls were able to come and see us during the weekend and we could actually be a family. And through that journey and through living in the hospital, I witnessed countless families that were separated from families. They were single moms. They were single dads. They lost businesses that they had started. Um they were trying to make ends meet. And it broke my heart even the journey that we went through. It's devastating to watch a family struggle financially um when they're in the battle of their lifetime. So, after Miller lost his battle, my husband and I decided that there was more. There was more to our story. So, we decided we wanted to help families financially. I wanted to make an impact. I wanted to build a

relationship. I wanted Miller's memory to grow. I wanted our Miller family to grow. And in the last seven years, we have been able to h help countless families here um locally in Augusta as well as families that come here to the Augusta area to get treatment. Um the vision kind of started because we were obviously fortunate, but we were paying hotel expenses during COVID. Ronald McDonald House was not allowing families to come in and stay unless you were currently there. So, we pitched in and helped put families up in local hotels here as well as Airbnbs. Um, and I'm just going to be real honest, a hotel is not a place for a family to stay when you're going through treatment. It's a temporary. It's good for a day or two, but for these families that are here for a week, two weeks, or six months, you're limited. You're limited with your kitchen space. You're limited um I mean, just in a in a small area. So, my husband and I threw out a plan about two years ago that we would love nothing more than to have a Miller house here. I have worked very closely with um some physicians at the Children's Hospital. Um Dr. Ted Johnson is running one of the largest um brain tumor trials here in Augusta and he has families coming from all over the United States here to receive treatment. and we would work very closely with him as well as with other physicians there at the children's hospital to help house these families. He has expressed the concern that the house is needed. The Ronald McDonald House is amazing and we are not trying to take away from that. It serves a bigger spectrum. It serves all patients of Children's Hospital. Um, but as I also know, there's a lot of um, unique things that come along when a parent is going or a child is going through a pediatric cancer um, journey. We are

petitioning this to be a duplex just because I want to be able to help more families. Um, if we're going to go through the process, I would like nothing more than to be able to not only house one family, but two families. Um the lot was or maybe you're asking why Miller Street. Um the lot was actually donated to us by a local um individual TR Ready and when he presented a couple of lots that he had available um this one was on Miller Street and it's just there was it was a no-brainer. Um there's a bigger picture. There's somebody else that is way more in charge of this vision and this dream. So that is my Miller Street. Um, we are here to work with Augusta. We're here to work with the planning committee. We are here to work with the um, community. We were down there doing kind of like a mini groundbreaking and some of the locals came by and spoke to us and asked what we were doing. Um, I look at that house to be a safe haven place for people that can go rest, get treatment. Um, they will not pay for anything. Our foundation will provide it all. Utilities, rent. It's basically I just want a safe place that a family can go while they're here receiving treatment and be a family. Um so that is the vision of Miller Street. We are open to recommendations. um obviously, but we were wanting to be able to provide a place for more families rather than just one, which is what the petition was for the reasonzoning.

Thank you so very much for sharing your story and um such a inspirational vision. Um commissioners, do you have any questions for the petitioner? Commissioner Spencer, I just would like that comment. I think it's wonderful what you're doing and um I'm hoping that we can us get this together. Thank you, Commissioner France. Yes. Uh you said that uh no one would be charged staying in this house u and whatnot. So why would they need two water taps if they're only going to have one water bill?

Um I'll defer that. Is someone from utilities present? Okay. All right. That's what she That's what she said. Yeah. Commissioner Prince. Um well, firstly I defer to staff. They have an answer.

Well, uh ultimately from the conversations we've had from AUT, you can see that they have a strong position on this. Uh from the the comments there. Um from what we get from them, what we read is that the uh applicant or the customer has the option, you know, developer, whoever is making the request has the option to have a shared meter or have separate meters and it's it's totally their call, but based on their decision made direct on the the process in which they have to submit for approval.

Additional questions or comments from commissioners? All right, seeing none, um, anybody in the audience object this petition, object to this petition? Anybody support? Obviously got a couple back there. All right. Uh, staff recommendations. All right. The planning development staff recommends denial of the resoning request as it does not meet the minimum lot size and lot width requirement for the R2 two family residential zoning. Should the board move to approve this res resoning petition, staff recommends the final condition. Approval of this resoning request does not constitute approval of the conceptual site plan submitted with the resoning application. The proposed development shall obtain a site plan approval in compliance with the site plan regulation of Augusta, Georgia prior to construction commenced on this property. The development of this property shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forth by the city of Augusta Brisby County, Georgia as amended at the time of development, including the repair of the sidewalk. This concludes staff recommendation.

Okay. Um guess entertain a motion. I make a motion for approval with with the changes to staff recommend with staff recommendations. Second. All right. So, that was a motion to approve with the staff recommendations. Correct. All right. To the petitioner, do you accept those staff recommendations? Yes. All right. So, it has been moved and properly seconded to approve this um petition with staff recommendations. All in favor? Opposed? Ain't right. Okay. All right. Your petition has been approved and it will be moved to the full commission on November 18th. Thank

you. I appreciate it. All right, let's proceed to the next agenda item. All right. Z-25-40 a petition by SGPB holding LLP on behalf of the Nixon Trust requesting a reszoning from zone Agriculture to zone HI heavy industrial to develop a manufacturing warehouse affecting approximately 100 acres out of a 28126 acre track located at 1554H Club Road. staff represent.

Hello again. Ashley Caterton, development services administrator. The applicant is seeking to subdivide and reszone approximately 100 acres out of a 281.26 acre parcel from agricultural to heavy industrial and this is to develop a manufacturing building warehouse. The new facility is being proposed on the portion to be subdivided directly north of 4H Club Road and will have access to the railway for comprehensive plan consistency. Uh this proposed project is located within the East Augusta character area and that character area is characterized by a mix of conservation and natural resource areas, industrial land uses with limited residential and commercial land use. The flood planes of the Savannah River and some of its tributary creeks account for the largest land use in East Augusta. And within these flood planes are designated natural resource and conservation areas, including the Mary Brickyard Ponds, Finy Swamp Wildlife Management Area, and the Finy Swamp Nature Park. Most of Augusta's warehousing, light industry, and heavy industry is in the East Augusta character area. Heavy industries include those producing chemicals, paper, and wood products, transportation equipment, and food products. Warehousing facilities are located near the existing surface transportation network of major highways and interstate changes or railroad lines. Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field is a significant regional activity center also located in East Augusta. The 2023 comprehensive plans vision for East Augusta is included includes

continuing the distinct separation and coexistence of residential and industry uses. The recommended development patterns consist of new businesses and industrial uses encompassing the Augusta Regional Airport and surrounding major highways, interstate interchanges, railroad lines, as well as continued preservation, conservation, and management of significant natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas used for education, recreation, and ecoourism. for findings. The conceptual site plan submitted with the application indicates that it will not be developing the southern portion of the lot that's located directly below 4 club, leaving approximately 181.26 acres of vacant agricultural zoned land. The conceptual site plan submitted with this application is proposing an approximate 310 foot by 972 foot 301 301 sorry I'm cannot read that square feet 301,000 square 320 square feet it's been a long Monday manufacturing industrial building warehouse with the intention to support heavy industrial use and railway expansion by connecting to Norfolk Southern's main rail line. The proposed use with the conceptual site plan does not require a development regional impact or DRRI review. The applicant mentioned in the letter of intent submitted with the application that the proposed project is working closely with the Augusta Economic Development Authority. There is no recent zoning history for this specific property. However, several parcels located directly above the subject property and adjacent to Tobac

Road have been resoned from agricultural to light industrial back in 2020 2021 and 2023. The property is not located within any special flood hazard areas. Um, and according to Augusta Richmond County GIS, there are wetlands located within the property. The nearest public transit stop is located approximately 1.5 miles away at the corner intersection of Mike Padet Highway and Finy Road. And according to G Dot, uh 4H Club Road is classified as a local road. Tobacco Road to the north of the subject property is classified as a principal arterial route and Doug Bernard Parkway along the eastern side is classified as a minor arterial route. Adjacent zoning districts to the north and portions to the west are a mix of light industrial, neighborhood business, general business, and agricultural directly along Mike Padet Highway. And then it spreads to uh single family, residential um to R1, R1A, and R1 C, R1D, and R1E. and majority hi is directly east being the Augusta regional airport and the southeast properties towards the south are mixed portions of land consisting of agricultural uh residential manufactured homes and single family residential and light industrial. The proposed resoning request to heavy industrial is consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan and compatible with the surrounding zoning and land uses. And at the time of completion of the report, staff did not receive any inquiries regarding the petition as advertised. And for engineering and utilities comments, traffic engineering commented driveways must meet GOT standards.

Engineering comments, there was none received. And for utilities, water and sewer will need to be extended to the site. A site plan will be required. And that concludes staff's presentation. Thank you. Petition present. Okay, Mr. Charlie, this one belongs to you, too, huh? All right, sir. Give us your name once more, your address, and um any additional details about the project.

Thank you, Chairman Pooer. My name is Jim Troder, 3615 Walton Extension. I do represent um a client here in town who's working with a potential enduser for this property. We're also working closely with the economic development authority. Caly is here to support that as well. And for those reasons, we're not at liberty to say right now who the enduser is. Um but they do require a hi zoning. It is primarily going to be a warehouse. Any manufacturing will be done within that warehouse. It's not intended to be like a chemical site or a paper mill or something like that. Excuse me. It is primarily a warehouse use. They just felt like to be safe, they needed that hi zoning uh to accommodate what their intended use is going to be. As was noted in the premeating, there are a number of wetlands on this property. The site will have to be fully engineered to identify those wetlands and work around them. It is only the current parcel like she mentioned is 281 acres. We're only seeking to reszone a hundred of it. [cough] Excuse me. And we do have a survey done delineating that that I provided to the staff. And as Commissioner Spencer pointed out as well in the planning commission meeting, um you're exactly right. Foreigners are not allowed to own property near airports. It is strictly prohibited now. Um, but this entity looking to do this project is not a foreignowned entity. It's a US-based entity. There's a number of HI parcels all the way around there. I'm sure you all all familiar with that area. And we do believe that zoning this for this potential end user is appropriate at this time.

Thank you, sir. Uh, commissioners, you have questions of the petitioner. [snorts] All right. Seeing none, anybody um in the audience object? Oh, no. We got a couple of members from the development authority here who support any additional support from the audience. All right. Well, now we'll move to staff recommendations. All right. The planning development staff recommend approval of the reser request to the HI heavy industrial which with the following conditions. The parcel shall be subdivided into two separate parcels and the subdivision plaque shall be recorded with the clerk of superior court's office prior to submittal for the site plan approval. The property owner must file the necessary deed plat for recording and then provide planning and development with a copy to ensure that the property has been appropriately transferred so the real estate tax record and GIS map can be updated accordingly. Development shall provide a minimum of 50 foot natural vegetation buffer on the southern property line along 4H Club Road. Development shall provide a minimum of 25 ft buffers from the wetlands. The proposed development will obtain a uh US ACE concurrence or permitting whichever applicable under section 44 of the clean water act of 1977 in or order to obtain a site plan approval. The facility shall provide confirmation to planning development department that it will meet all parking requirements for the property prior to any additional phase commencement. All zoning ordinance in including section 28 airport regulation and the Augusta tree ordinance must be met in order to obtain a site plan approval. FAA form 7460-1 notice to notice of proposed construction of or alteration must be completed prior to submitting for site

plan review. The development shall comply with all Abico local, state and federal environmental regulations. Approval of this resoning request does not constitute approval of the conceptual site plan submitted with the resoning application. The proposed development shall obtain site plan approval in compliance with site plan regulation of Augusta, Georgia prior to construction commencing of this property. The development of the property shall comply with all building development standards and regulations set forth by the city of Augusta Richmond County, Georgia as amended at this time of development. This concludes staff recommendation. Mr. to try to do you um accept those staff recommendations? Yes, we do. All right. Chair would entertain a motion motion to approve with second.

All right. It's been properly moved and seconded to um approve this petition with staff recommendations. All in favor? All right. Post. Say right. All right. This petition has been approved and be moved to the November 18th full commission. Thank you.

All right. Let's hear the final uh agenda item. for this month. All right. PV-25-01. Petition by Katie Gray on behalf of Walmart Real Estate Business Trust requesting a parking variance to reduce the required off- streetet parking from 685 spaces to 669 spaces affecting property containing approximately 20-02 acres located at 3338 Rice Road. Zone B2 general business staff represent. Last but not least, Ashley Caterton, development services administrator. The applicant is seeking a parking variance for the business located at 3338 Writesboro Road. The property contains a Walmart Super Center. According to the applicant, the retail store measures approximately 155,768 square ft in size. Tax records [clears throat] indicate that the building was constructed in 2013. The applicant is seeking to reduce the total amount of required off- streetet parking spaces from 685 spaces to 669 spaces for a proposed building expansion and site renovation. And this is about about a 2.34 per% reduction. For findings, the site measures approximately 20.02 acres. The proposed development plans are to expand the store's online pickup and delivery delivery operations. The overall building size will increase to 160,92 square ft, a 3.3% increase. Approximately 23,96 ft will be dedicated to storage, while 31,480 ft will be dedicated to non-patron area.

The entrances of the parking lot will will remain as is. And section 4.2D6 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires that retail sales and similar businesses establishments have a minimum of one space for each 200 square ft of retail sales area plus one space for each 1,000 square ft of remaining leasable area used for storage or work area. The applicant is requesting to reduce the required parking to 669 spaces, which is approximately a 2.34% reduction. And at the time of completion of this report, staff have not received any inquiries regarding the application as it was advertised. And for engineering and utilities comments, engineering comments, the conditions are those given in the site plan review submission for the site from September 2nd, 2025. Site plan review number 2025-073. Utilities comments are does not appear to be any work on the county water or sewer. And that concludes staff's presentation.

Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right, sir. if you can come up and give us your name and your address and any additional details on your petition.

Good afternoon. Uh my name is Philip Takish. I live at 240 Oak Drive, Alpharetta, Georgia. I'm with Atwell LLC. Uh we represent Walmart in this expansion uh project. Um basically, uh there's nothing new to to add other than uh the expansion. It's a 5,134 ft uh building expansion that is basically storage area for uh the uh the online the outside pickup and delivery merchandise. It's a temporary storage area for the uh uh the uh for their folks to come in, pick it up, and take it out to the cars uh as they come in to uh pick it up. And uh so there's no increase in impervious area. Um there'll be no uh increase in sewer, water, any utilities uh to the site and uh that's basically it.

All right. Thank you, sir. Uh commissioners, you have any um questions of the petitioner? Seeing none, um any objections from the audience? Seeing none, support and same way. All right. Seeing none, move to staff recommendations. Right. The planning development staff recommends approval of the park and variance request. That concludes staff recommendation. All right, sir. Do you accept those recommendations? We do. All right. Chair would entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Second. All right. It's been properly moved and seconded to approve this petition. All in favor? All right. Oppose. Same. Right. All right. This petition has been approved. It'll be moved forwarded to the uh November 18th full commission.

Very good. Thank you. Oh, it doesn't. I'm sorry. is it won't be it won't be moved. This is this is the final action. Final action. All right. Well, um thank you all for attending. Is there anything from the legal session? Nothing for the legal session. All right. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes from the October meeting? Motion to approve. All right. It's been moved and seconded to approve the October minutes. All in favor? All righty. All right. And can I get a motion to adjurnn? [laughter]

All right. Well, thank you all for attending the uh planning commission meeting for November. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving.