Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, staff, are we ready?

All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the December um planning commission meeting. last uh commit planning commission meeting of the of the year. Um but before we begin, it saddens me to uh start this meeting with um such a sorrowful uh tone, but last week the planning development staff was made aware that um one of their staff members, Mr. Brian Kempner, had passed away. Um Brian was a senior zoning administrator. um very cherished uh staff member and he will be sorely missed. And so uh I'm going to ask everyone if we can just take a brief moment of silence um to acknowledge his passing before we proceed. Thank you. All right. Um we're going to call this meeting to order at 3:01. Um staff, if you could read the opening statement.

My microphone was not on. Can you hear me now? All right, let's try this one more time. So, the Augusta, Georgia Planning Commission is a recommended body that the final decisions on all zoning matters coming for it today will be made by the Augusta Commission on Tuesday, Tuesday, January the 6th, 2026 at 2 p.m. in the Augusta Commission chambers at the municipal building. The planning commission makes the final decisions on all zoning 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 resoning 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 within the govern authority. The disclosure report must be filed within 10 calendar days of filing the application and 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 resoning 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 we do ask that all public comments be brief on subject and non-repetitive and directed to the commission, not to any individual or group. Thank you. Referring to the agenda, we have an agenda item that um is asking for postponement and so I ask the staff to read that for the record and then we'll take an action.

Okay. Good afternoon everyone. The item is Z-25-42 a petition by James Bernon Powell requesting a reszoning from zone Agriculture and B2 general business to a zone A agriculture for residential use affecting property containing approximately 3 acres located at 5940 Deansbridge Road. Let me let me pause for a second before we do that. I just want to make sure that the petitioner is not present. He is present. Okay. All right. So, let's retract that and then we'll we'll just go top to bottom and we'll hear that item in its respective order.

Okay. Good. Okay. Yeah. Let's proceed with the with the U agenda as it's presented top to bottom.

Okay. Good afternoon everyone. Item number one, Z-25-41, a petition by Irwin LLC on behalf of Asmus LLC, requesting a reszoning from zoning R1B, one family residential, and R1C, one family residential, to a zone R3B, multif family residential, to develop a student housing affecting properties containing approximately 3.33 acres, located at 616, 7708, and 710 Weed Street at 2450 Willow staff represent.

Good afternoon. Ashley Caterton, development services administrator. The summary for this request, the applicant is seeking to reszone 616 Weed Street, 708 Weed Street, 710 Weed Street, and 710 Weed Street from R1B and two 2450 Wheeler Road from R1C to R3B. and this is multifamily residential to develop off-campus student housing. All four of these properties are currently vacant and located within the Sand Hills neighborhood. For comprehensive plan consistency, um according to the 2023 comprehensive plan, the properties are located within the Old Augusta character area. The vision for old Augusta character area reflects to maintain and enhance its historic character and unique mix of land uses while maintaining stability in established neighborhoods. Redevelopment should include the removal of deteriorated and dilapitated structures, construct or rehabilitation of single family housing, new medium and high density housing, additional commercial and office development, new civic and institutional facilities. This 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. Moving on to findings, the letter of intent submitted with this application indicates that the project is intended to house approximately 130 students. The applicant also mentioned in a letter of intent that the proposed project will offer residential style attached buildings as well as amenities

that will include on-site management, a leasing office, gym, co-working space, laundry, gathering area, and possible mini mart. The applicant spoke with staff on November 18th and stated that they will be providing letters and documentation of support from the San Hill Neighborhood Association and Augusta University prior to the schedule hearing date or on the actual hearing date today. The as of today, we have not received that documentation. The applicant also mentioned participating in community outreach and has already attended a San Hill Neighborhood Association community meeting. The proposed development is within walking distance of Augusta University. Staff approximately estimated about four to five blocks to the south. As shown in the provided floor plan, each unit will have six bedrooms and one shared kitchen with a dining room. This development provides 74 parking spaces for the 22 proposed units. This calculates to approximately half 0.5 spaces per bedroom of spacing per bedroom. Additionally, there are seven parking spaces provided at the two proposed amenity units located at 2450 Wheeler Road. There is no recent zoning history for this specific property. However, 2403 Mount Auburn Street located directly below 708 and 710 Wheat Street was reszoned to R3C single family residential in 2020. The properties are not located within a special flood hazard area and there are

also no wetlands located within the within these properties. The nearest public transit stop is located approximately 1,700 ft away directly to the south on Walton Way. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation state functional class maps of 2017, Weed Street and Wheeler Road are classified as local roads. Adjacent zoning districts districts consist of single family residential zones with mixed portions of land consisting of multiple family residential zoning, B1 neighborhood business, and a PUD for plan unit development. The proposed resoning request to R3B is consistent, as I mentioned, with aspects of the 2023 comprehensive plan and compatible with the surrounding zoning and land uses. And at the time of completion of this report, staff had not received any inquiries. However, we were notified earlier today that there was a phone call, one phone call in opposition for engineering and utilities comments. For traffic engineering, driveways must meet GOT standards and this includes width, distance from the intersections. For engineering comments, storm on track A must overdetain for tracks B and C not having storm systems. Uh for utilities comments, there were none received at this time. And that concludes staff's presentation.

Thank you. Is the petitioner present? Sir, if you could come up and give us your name, address, and any u new details on your petition.

Good afternoon. My name is Wayne Miller. Um I am officed at 2500 Trade Center Drive in Evans. Um, my offices in Richmond County are down at King Mill. Um, I'm not sure that I can add much to what what staff has said. I have I have heard um earlier this afternoon concerns expressed about parking. Um, let me say at the outset that we are discouraging uh students to bring cars into this environment. it's appealed to us is that it truly is a walk from the campus. Uh the university does run a van down Fleming um to make a turn back into the campus and we have met with university and we are expecting a letter of support. Um but we don't have it. That's that's correct, Ashley. um u the Thanksgiving holiday and bureaucracy slows some of this stuff down, but um we do not want you'll be charged if you're going to if there will be parking spaces, you'll be charged to house your car there, but we are discouraging cars and um the university as it heads to 16,000 students uh is going to need student housing and we're specifically targeting underassmen. So we want undergraduate students. Um King Mill as it's finished right now has a fair number of of students that are there mostly post-graduate students and we hope to bring um Sibly Mill on market in the next 18 months which will also be additional student housing. But in terms of of either of those locations or any of the others except for Beacon Station, uh you by and large have to um you cannot walk to certainly cannot walk

walk to the Somerville campus and university place which is across from the patch uh which is student housing is not within walking distance of the university. So, our goal here is to create an environment that looks like a neighborhood as opposed to a high density single um uh building with lots of lots of students in it. Spread it out over an area. Deemphasize the automobile. emphasize bicycles, walking sidewalks and really um live harmoniously with the Weed School project which is I think pending and with the rest of the neighbors who we've met with on several different occasions, not just the neighborhood association meeting, but to try and fit into that neighborhood and be, you know, accretive to the efforts of the university to to get up to 16,000 students and they've got to have some student housing. So, um that's context. Uh I'm sure there qu perhaps questions, there were concerns um as to engineering. This was a a pvious, you know, there was impervious surface before roofs, rooftops, driveways. Um obviously, we're going to replace it with some more of that. We can add just without even trying, we could probably add 30 or 40 parking spaces to what we have. But again, that accomplishes or satisfies the automobile. And I understand safety issues, but it deemphasizes walkability. It deemphasizes bicycles, it deemphasizes scooters, it deemphasizes university transportation. So that's that's really the way we approached it and understand that

obviously there are trade-offs that one has to consider in any project particularly one that is constrained by street widths. Our our entrances are on Montgomery not on on weed because weed is a particularly narrow street. Um but you know I can't tell you we know every eventuality that could happen out there. So that's context if that's helpful, Mr. Chairman. Happy to take questions if there are any or All right. Thank you, Mr. Malar. Um, commissioners, do you have any questions of the petitioner? Mr. Chairman.

All right. Go ahead. Go ahead, Commissioner Mcnite.

Then we'll come to you, Commissioner Spencer. what where I'm I I know you listened to our previous uh meeting and you understand where we're at is that we we're at an impass on the parking and with the green space. Um I wish you would consider because we do want this project to move forward. I mean I I think you've got a great idea. I'm right down the street with you trying to do the same great idea. But student parking is something that you will have to deal with. Um, so what I would hope that you would do is let's let's postpone this for 30 days for you to go back and talk to the staff about increasing your parking, uh, to look at some green space, to look at your water retention, um, and to look at uh, your construction material and long using longevity material because those are some of the problems that we've had in the past. Also,

would you please elaborate on the construction material? Well, we've seen some of these places use the vinyl siding. A thunderstorm comes by, blows the siding off and and and we're stuck there with a eyesore. Yeah. We we we would commit to to using either Hardy board or, you know, some brick material or combination.

I appreciate that more than you can imagine. Uh but so uh it what I would like to propose and I I don't want to take the commission's time is is that we we sit back, you get with the staff and try to find a way to meet in a middle ground. So what parking suffices at least today

knowing that you're you're going after student housing. Okay. and noting knowing that you're going to have six beds to every door. Uh I I think in a minimum and this is the staff and and you may be able to come up with a better way would be not going with the the two and a half that's or the two that's required but maybe going with one and a half per per bit. So let's hear was your thought complete commissioner Mcnite? Yes. For for the moment um let's let staff interject here.

Yeah. So I believe with the section for the ordinance it refers to uh one parking space per bedroom for dormitories and we are believing that would probably be more appropriate. Currently your ratios stack up to be being.5 is half per bedroom. Um and so we make it a one for one. you essentially would need double the parking um to double your current parking to satisfy the uh requests and and at which point we not quite double but we significantly increase the impervious surface that results from that. So if if the commissioner would understand, you know, you you you get you win on one and you lose on the other.

And and and unfortunately, I'd like to say normally one could win on both, but we're in a very confined space here. um not there's land around but there not a lot of folks that that want to you know move out of a house that's across the street so we can demolish it and put parking or um you know put in uh a detention. So this is a this is juggling here. I I've been where you are and and maybe it it would be better to to maybe eliminate some of the units and produce the parking. Yeah. But then then you get into the economics of it. So it's the these are always tradeoffs.

Sir, that's what that's why we have the staff. Yeah. All right. Commissioner Ignite you. Does that complete your thoughts, your comments? All right. Let's go to Commissioner Spencer.

Excuse me. I support what you're doing except for the parking um in the in the I support the things that um Commissioner Mcnite mentioned. I'm concerned that college students, most of them are going to have cars and to say you're going to discourage them from having cars. They're young people. They're going to have cars and but not only for that unit, but for the surrounding neighborhood. If the if they're parking the cars around, it will be a detriment to to the people who already live there. and I don't want to see them have additional issues to deal with because we were lax on pushing for parking. I can't support it the way it's written right now and I do apologize for that.

Commissioner Cook. Um, Mr. Chairman, I would like to put second. Second. Does the petitioner are you amable to a postponement for 30 days? I'm not sure that we're going to get a lot done in the next 30 days, but we'll give it a shot. If not, it'll be 60 days.

All right. So, what's the motion? 30 60. Let's just go with 60 days. All right. So, there has been a motion and a second to postpone this petition for 60 days to allow the petitioner and the staff to um work together to massage this um this application. All right. All in favor? Any oppose? All right. This petition has been posted. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Malar. All right. Moving on to item number two. All right. Item number two is Z-25-42. A petition by James Bernardon Powell requesting a reszoner from zones A agriculture and B2 general business to a zone agriculture for a residential use affecting property containing approximately 3 acres located at 5940 Deansbridgeidge Road staff represent.

Thank you Mr. Vasser. Thank you Mr. Chair. Members of the commission. Good afternoon. Todd Kennedy with planning and development staff. The item we have before you is a resoning uh petition. This resoning application is a request to reszone a 3acre property located at 5940 Deansbridge Road from agricultural A to G uh and general business B2 to agricultural encompassing the entire parcel for residential purposes. No development is proposed with this request. According to the 2023 comprehensive plan, the property is located within the South Richmond area. The vision for the South Richmond area reflects its character of a rural atmosphere identified in the comprehensive plan. Any development should incorporate conservation easements and promote conservation subdivisions where necessary. The proposal is eliminating an unused and unnecessary commercial zoning district located away from any designated intersections, creating a parcel that is consistent uh that is consistent agricultural zoning. This request supports the vision of the South Richmond area by maintaining lowdensity residential development currently on site and therefore is cons uh consistent with the recommendations of the 2023 comprehensive plan update. The findings are as follows. Findings 1 through nine. Number one, there was a former business at this address that sold golf carts and utility vehicles that was closed by the licensing and permitting division on September 9th, 2011. No other businesses have been active at this address since then. Okay. Number two, section 8-7 for R1 zoning in the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires a minimum size of 15,000 square ft. Section seven of the comprehensive zoning ordinance describes the Azone but ref uh refers to

section 8 where the R1 zoning development u uh standards apply to a zoning. The 3 acre property extends uh exceeds the 15,000 ft minimum lot size. Therefore, the requirement is met. Number three, section 8-7 for R1 zoning in the comprehensive zoning ordinance requires a minimum lot width of 100 ft. The property measures 257 ft in width which exceeds that requirement. Number four, according to the FEMA flood insurance rate maps or firm, the property is not located within a special flood hazard area. Number five, according to the Augusta Richmond County GIS layer, there are no wetlands located on the property. Number six, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation State Functional Classification Map 2017, Deansbridge Road is classified as a principal arterial route. Number seven, the surrounding properties of this block are mostly zoned agricultural. The subject site is located across um the subject site is located across Deansbridge Road from Fort Gordon. Number eight, though there uh no development proposals on this property, the proposed reasonzoning itself would be consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan. Number nine, at the time of completion of this report, staff uh have not received any uh inquiries regarding this petition as advertised. engineering and utility uh comments. Uh staff has not received any comments from any of the the three divi um the three uh divisions and departments, traffic, engineering, engineering, and utilities. No comments have been received. That concludes my presentation. Um my uh staff and myself, the applicant, we're all here to answer any questions.

Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right, ma'am. if you could come forth and give us your name and address and any new details on your petition.

Hi, I'm Judith May. I'm um James Vernon Powell's niece. I I'm speaking for him. He's hard of hearing. Okay. Well, if you can just give us your name, your address, and then his name and his address as well. Okay. My name is Judith May and I live at 1961 McDade Farm Road in Hepsuba and this is James Bernon Powell and his um his property is the 5940 Deansbridge Road. Okay. In life.

Thank you. And if it's any additional details that you would like this commission to know about your um petition. He just would like to remove the commercial designation from the property because he does not plan to open a business again at this property. He's retired and he doesn't plan to sell the property for it to be used as a business or any of that. He wants to keep the property but just has it have it as residential and change it to a property that he could live in. He would like it to live on that property.

All right. Thank you. Um comments, questions from the commissioners to the petitioner. All right. Commissioner Smith, is somebody currently living in that that No, sir. Right now, he has everything there um like storage and things, but not currently living there. He's just there a lot with stuff in their storage. On the picture that was submitted to us, there's a a trailer um looks like a 40 foot trailer, whatever parked on that. What is that still there? Storage. Oh, storage. It's just It's still there. Yes, sir. Nothing has changed and it's just storage building. So, it's not being used for commercial?

No, no, no, no. He has not had a business. He does not plan to have a business. There there's one person that called and expressed some concern about this. Um, is everybody in your family on board with this? Um it's his property and his property alone. Um his son and daughter and uh wife that he's estranged from may not be on board. Those might be the people that have called, but it's his property and his property alone. They own other properties on the on Deansbridge Road, but this one is his. So there's it's not going to be commercial property.

No. No. He does not want to have another business at that property ever. Okay. Thank you. Additional comments or questions from commissioners? All right, seeing none, anybody in the audience opposed to this petition? Anybody support? Okay. All right. Staff recommendations. The planning development staff recommends approval of the reszone request as it meets the minimum lot size and lot width requirements for the the A agriculture zoning. That's concludes staff recommendation. All right, chair entertain a motion. Do you accept those conditions? All right, chair will entertain a motion.

Move to approve. Second. Been moved and properly second to approve um this petition with conditions. All in favor? Any oppose?

All right. All right. Thank you. So this um your petition has been approved and be moved to the full commission on January 6th. Thank you. All right, on to item number three. Okay, item number three is Z-25-43, a petition by Mario Kante MGVG on behalf of Soul R. Espiranza requesting a reszoning from zone A agriculture and R1A one family residential to zone R-3B multif family residential to develop an apartment complex affecting property containing approximately 8.81 acres located at 2621 Barn Chapel Road staff represent.

All right Kevin Boyd development services manager. Uh this uh request has been brought forth uh by the applicant to change the zoning from a agricultural um and R1A one family residential to R3B to uh develop uh multif family apartments um at a property located at uh 2621. This is a 8.8 uh acre parcel. Um and it currently has frontage along Barton Chapel Road. Uh this concept uh plan uh submitted with the application includes the following elements. 128 multifamily apartment units uh 320 off- streetet parking spaces and overall density of approximately 14.5 units per acre and two stormware detention ponds planned for the development. staff findings. Uh there were no recent um zoning history for the property. The properties um or property uh have nearby access to portable water and sanitary sewer systems. The Georgia Department of Transportation function classification map 2017 classifies Barton Chapel as a minor arterial road. Based on a preliminary traffic impact worksheet, uh traffic engineering has concluded a comprehensive traffic study analysis will be required for uh the proposed development. The proposed development meets the minimum off- streetet parking requirement of two uh spaces per dwelling unit. Uh there there's uh nearest uh bus stop is um approximately 140 ft from the subject property. According to the FEMA flood insurance rate maps firm, the property is located within a special flood hazard area. Um

it's not I'm sorry, it's not. According to the Augusta Richmond County um GIS map layer, there are no wetlands located on the property. Adjacent zoning districts include agricultural and R1A one family residential directly to the north. Uh R1A res one family residential and B1 neighborhood business to the east. Agricultural R1A and B1 uh to the south and agricultural to the west. Uh the proposed change to um R3B would be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. And we received one inquiry regarding this request. Um not particularly in favor are or are opposed. Um but for more information in terms of the comments from uh engineering utilities traffic engineering states that the project is adjacent to a roadway plan for improvement by AED uh coordinate with AED project consultant and engineering comments was that uh G dot standards to be used and that concludes staff's presentation.

Thank you. Is the petitioner present? All right, sir. If you would come forward and give us your name, address, and any additional details on your petition. Hey, good afternoon. My name is Joshua Mura. Um, I'm with Sanford Group. I'll be the civil engineer on this project if it were to go through. Our office address is 2449 Moors Mill Road, Sweet 120, located in Auburn, Alabama. Um, I also have a I'm sorry presentation.

I also have a presentation for today just to show some additional renderings of um what the developer intends to do on the project. Um so yes uh I'm the civil engineer. The applicant is Mario K um with MGBG Living. Um what you see before you is a project he did in Thomasville which is um building renderings very similar to um what we'd like to do here in off Barton Chapel. Um so as a site plan was discussed um it'll be six u multifamily um building units um ranging from studio apartments to onebedroom and two-bedroom apartments a mix of those that range. Um the goal is to provide affordable housing um in the area with prices ranging um anywhere from 900 to 1,500 um per the different bedroom units um within the apartment complex. So all the parking will be located inside of the site um as mentioned and we'll have a few amenities as well um which include some internal sidewalks um throughout the development as well as a dog park and a playground area. Here's uh some more pictures to give you an idea of what the exterior building is going to look like. Um it's a combination of stone veneer um and fiber cement um siding. Uh next is some some pictures of what the interior units of the apartments are going to look like. Just different shots of living room on the right as well as the the bedroom on the left and the kitchen and and bathroom areas. Um, and as mentioned earlier, here's um an idea of what the the amenities we have envisioned in mind of of the playground area on the left there and then the enclosed dog park area um to the right. So, I know um there are some concerns uh with access on this um on this Barton Chapel Road here. I know

there's some improvements going on and so it's something that we've talked about with with Marcus and we're willing to work with ISM on any of the improvements on Barton Chapel Road. We understand that a full traffic impact study is going to be required and that could be a condition of approval that we are going to meet all um stipulations outlined by the traffic impact study of what's required to have safe ingress egress out of the sites. Um, also wanted to mention, um, on the site plan, uh, there is a stream that that runs alongside that northern, um, property. Um, and so we believe that's going to provide an additional uh, buffering from those residential homes that are located along that property line. We have no intentions at all to impact the stream or the stream buffers. And we're also required to have a six-foot wooden fence um, alongside all residential zone properties. We believe, especially with the residential units located on the northern side of that property line, having the fence with the natural buffer, the stream and existing vegetation that will not be touched will provide adequate screening from the adjacent property owners um to the north. Um I understand in in the uh South Augusta character area in in the um in the comprehensive plan that apartment complexes are scattered throughout that area and we believe with the site's proximity um to Deanbridge Road and um also located on a arterial as Barton Chapel Road that um it provides easy access to employment, retail and other community features um within that area. And we understand that that South Augusta has been a focus for new residential um uh housing and in the past years and so we just are looking to meet that need of affordable housing in that area. But happy to answer any other questions you may have on this project.

All right. Thank you. Um are there any questions or comments from the commissioners? I've got one. All right. Commissioner Mcnite, have you ever been on Barton Chapel Road at 5:00? Yeah. Yes, sir. I am I grew up in Augustus, so I am familiar with the area. Okay. I just All right. Just want to make sure you knew what you were talking about. All right. Thank you.

All right. Additional questions, comments from commissioners. Seeing none, go to the audience. Uh, anybody in the audience object to this petition? All right. Keep your hands up. We We're gonna get a count. Do you have a spokesperson who wants to express um your opposition or you just want um your opposition to be noted?

Okay. Well, you can come to to the to the front. Um the opposition have a balance of 10 minutes um to express your opposition. So if um if you guys can be brief in your comments so that we can hear the viewpoint of of everyone and if you give us your name and address sir.

My name is Charles Carson 2426 Fry Lane Augusta Georgia Bon Cheper Hills. I live right off of Bon Cheper Road. And we've been hearing and hearing about this here about the engineers. Really, those pictures look good. They look good. The apartments looks good, but that little spot down there is nothing but a hole. It's nothing but a hole down in the wood lines. And every time we look around, somebody trying to build more houses. It's so many house being built around here in Augusta now. and especially between uh Gordon Highway and Bar and Chupper Road that the traffic is so bad that you can barely get in and out. I know uh y'all tires talking about the traffic, but that's a big problem. That is a very big problem. And we've been coming there for about three years now talking about that traffic coming down that road. You can't get out of bottom chills into the traffic and ain't nobody going to let you out of it. They let you poke your nose out there far enough without getting hit. Pictures look good, but that wood line down in there, it going to sink in on them. Thank you.

Thank you. All right, ma'am. if you give us your name and your address.

Hello, honorable commissioners. Uh my name is Patricia Jeter and I'm at 4102 Elders Drive. Um and that is located down the street from Barton Chapel Road. My concerns are um this gentleman just mentioned the congestion, the traffic congestion. I do believe it's 128 units if I'm to my understanding. Um now I do understand the need for affordable housing. My question is um why did you pick Barton Chapel? I mean it's it's already difficult to get around. It's I travel that road. I go down Barton Chapel to Metobrook Drive where my mother lives and it is ridiculous. The traffic is ridiculous. But it's like I I do know that area needs new housing. Um especially for Glenn Hills High School and some of the high schools that are having problems with population. However, this gentleman mentioned I believe he said wood lines. I don't know if he mean means wetlands. Um, but we have the same problem. We have over in our area, everyone wants to build. It's a fantastic idea, but it's it's congested and if you're impacting the wetlands, that's a problem. Um, I I'm somewhat for it because South Augusta does need housing, but I'm also against it based on the location uh and the proximity to some of these single family dwellings. I believe he said Barton Chapel Hills, Barton Village. I I I I my question is what type why is

this why did you pick that area? What type of quality are you is he using for these apartments? Is it because it could bring up the area, but at the same time it could cause a problem for the area as well as far as crime. It can make crime worse if you're just sticking apartments over there and there vinyl siding. Um, no one's managing the property. There's no covenants on it. So th those are my concerns. the residents that live there, they've been there years. Um I I I don't I I'm back and forth with it. I just don't think it's a good location for that type of uh development.

Thank you. All right, sir. If you could come forth and give us your name and your address.

Uh my name is Leroy Busy and I live at 2411 Fry Lane. Uh besides the traffic, everybody's talking about affordable housing. To me, this sounds like affordable apartments. If you're going to do housing, do houses, you know, because you building apartments behind our house. Our property value going to go down. And like you say, you don't know who's going to be moving out. You don't know if it's going to be rapist, kill us, or who. All you want is the money. So I say if you go we they building apartments now on Deanbridge Road right on from Walmart. We are I mean every time you look around it's apartments. Why are nobody building houses? Why are nobody building something that people can own one day instead of just making other people's rich? And that's all I got to say on that note.

Thank you Mr. Buzzy. if you would come forward and uh give us your name and address.

Okay. Baba Pulium. I live at 2418 Fry Court. And I think each person who's been up here already sort of touched on everything I had to say. So, I'll be like I'll go back into my teacher mode. I'm going to sort of summarize. And the thing I'm I'm very concerned about is the traffic. I no longer call that, but I call it I live off the expressway because it's like an expressway. I I I I hate to talk about this, but I'll say it one more time. When my husband was very ill and I had to get to point A to get to point B with some medication, I sat out there and cried because I sat there for about 15 minutes trying to get out. And it's unbelievable. Try it in the mornings and the evenings. You would not believe the type of traffic that goes on that road. And I think it's because it's connecting two main highways like you can go from um Gordon Highway to Deanbridge Road and people taking shortcuts cuz it wasn't like that all the time. And I've been out there for since ' 74. And I thought I was moving in the country at that time. And uh it is awful with the traffic and more apartments I think's going to make it worse. And that's I just can't see other apartments. I think of more cars. So please consider it's too congested and I don't think apartments there's as the man said it's somebody want more money not necessarily thinking about the area.

Okay. We want people you know my thing I like to see people owning houses not thinking of people paying rent forever. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pio. All right. So, we are going to bring the opposition to a close. Um to the petitioner, you heard some of the concerns um of the opposition. You have an opportunity to address those if you would like.

Thank you. Um so, I'll just kind of go in in the order of how I wrote them down. I know there's some concerns with wetlands on the site. We did have a streams and wetlands delineation done on the site and we will not be impacting any of the stream or wetlands that are are located on the site as the current layout sits. Um so I know the the traffic is seems to be the the major concern here. Um and so that's that's why we we're fully willing to to do the traffic impact study and to abide by whatever is required as a part of that. Um it's possible that a diesel lane or something could be required by that. Um and I know that the road extension is going on um in that area as well and we want to fit in with the plans of ISM. So we are willing to coordinate with them um whatever we have to do in order to to make sure that we're matching with their plans. Um the property will be uh will be managed. Um so it's it's it's not something that is going to deteriorate over time. there will be a property management um agency that that that will be taken over um that area to make sure all the open space and everything is is maintained and and cleared. But if there's any other additional questions um that you commissioners may have, I'm I'm happy to answer those as well.

Commissioners, questions at all. All right. Before we move to staff recommendations. All right, staff. Um your recommendations.

All right. The planning development staff recommends denial of the reszoning request because the proposed development density significantly exceed that of the surrounding residential area. Should the board move to approve this reszoning protection, staff recommend the following condition. Development must comply with all aspects of the Augusta tree ordinance. The comprehensive zoning comprehensive traffic impact study analysis is required prior to the submittal of a site plan for this development. Approval of this resoning request does not constitute approval of the consensual site plan submitted with the resoning application. The proposed development shall obtain site plan approval in compliance with the site plan regulations of Augusta, Georgia prior to the construction commence on this property. The development of the property shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forward by the city of Augusta Richmond County, Georgia as amended at the time of development. This concludes staff recommendation. All right, chair will entertain a motion. Motion

to deny. I'll second it. All right. It has been moved and properly seconded to deny this um petition. Uh can we do a roll call? All right. Commissioner O'Neal, how do you vote in reference to deny? Deny. Commissioner Prince, deny. Commissioner Clark, deny. Uh, Commissioner Smith, I. Commissioner Spencer, I Commissioner Cooks, n. Commissioner Larry, Commissioner Malice, Commissioner Davis, denied. And Mcnite, denied. All right. So, it has been denied. All right. So, this petition has been denied.

All right. So, that recommendation to be moved to the full commission on January 6th. All right. Moving forward. So item four and five are companion items. So we'll hear those together. All right. Item number four, Z-25-44. A petition by Sadi Kong on behalf of Prestige Wealth Management LLC requesting a reszoner from zone R3A multif family residential to zone multif family residential to develop a tiny home community affecting property containing approximately 0.92 acres located at 1412 HP MC road staff represent I need to read both of them hold on just a They want you to speak a little louder.

Can I can I ask the um the folks in the in the back to please exit? Thank you all. Um yeah, I think it it'll be appropriate to go ahead and read both.

Okay, I'll start over there. All right. Number four, Z-25-44. petition by Sadi Kong on behalf of Prestige Wealth Management LLC requesting a reszoning from R3A multif family residential to zone R3B multif family residential to develop a tiny home community affecting approximately containing approximately 0.92 Eric acres located at 1412 H Mc Bean Road number five SC-25-14 a petition by Sadie Kong on behalf of Prestige Wealth Management LLC C requesting a special exception per section 17-2 C of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to establish a tiny home community affecting approximately containing approximately 0.92 acres located at 1412 H beam road zone R3A multif family residential staff represent

Amanda Cruz planner one um so as interim director Vasser was stating um there are two petitions here the first petition seeks to reszone approximately imately 0.92 acres. Uh the request to change the zoning from R3A multiple family residential to R3B multiple family residential to allow for a tiny home community upon the approval of a special exception. Um that special exception applies to the same 0.92 acres um that is being considered in conjunction with this request. The property contains a 240q ft shed that is being used currently as an office that was placed on site without proper permitting. The conceptual site plan submitted with this application proposes to construct a total of five tiny homes. The overall project aims to help lowincome families by providing affordable rental units. Uh provisions for tiny homes were added to the comprehensive zoning ordinance in September 2022 um in section 26-1V. The ordinance allows for tiny home communities in zones R1E, R3B, and R3C with the approval of a special exception. Section 26-1V also stipulates that a property to be developed for a tiny home community shall be no greater than 3 acres. The subject property satisfies this requirement. For the proposed tiny home development to conform with the comprehensive zoning ordinance, the applicant must obtain the following. Um the first one being approval by the Augusta Commission of the Reszoning request to place the property within an approved zoning district for tiny home communities. In this case, it would be the R3B zoning. and then um approval with the Augusta Commission of a special exception to allow for the tiny home community in that R3B zone pursuant to of section

17-2C of our comprehensive zoning ordinance. Uh please note that the findings and recommendations of each report um pertain to either the resoning or the special exception. Um, and both petitions must be approved by the Augusta Commission for the Tiny Home Community to begin operation. The properties in the South Richmond character area and the 2023 comprehensive plans vision for the South Richmond character area will be to maintain its predominant rural atmosphere characterized by large tracks of forest land, open space, rural residences, some farms, and creeks. Additional suburban residential and commercial development will be located in areas designated for such land uses. Uh public facilities and services will be expanded as necessary to accommodate this growing population. This petition for resoning um as well as the uh special exception is not consistent with our 2023 comprehensive plan. The applicant requests uh special exception and the reasonzoning for the purpose of developing a tiny home community. An application was filed on October 24th, 2025 to reszone the property from R3A to R3B. Um, and it is considered in request in conjunction with this as well as the special exception. A conceptual site plan and exterior renderings have been submitted with this application. The 5-unit tiny home development will be comprised of pre-fabricated container home buildings. The colors can be customizable while the material will be comprised of galvanized steel and sandwiched panels. The proposed tiny homes will measure between 200 to 400 square ft, which satisfies the requirement of 400 ft or less. Each dwelling unit is limited to one and a half stories in height. The letter of intent states that some tiny homes are proposed to be two stories in height, which would not be permitted in a zoning

district. The proposal has an overall density of 5.4 units per acre, which satisfies the five units per acre minimum density requirement in the R3B zone. The concept plan does not show any setbacks um front, side or rear. However, the development, if approved, would need to meet all minimum setbacks required in section 26-1 V15 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance. A minimum of 0.18 or 20% of the property shall be dedicated to common open recreational space, which is referred to as a village green. The village green may uh include landscaping, active and passive recreational facilities, water features, and or any natural areas. The village green shall be centrally located within the proposed development and accessible by all residents and tenants. The concept plan features a shared garden, picnic area, and a rain garden uh bioail. However, there are no acreages listed with this village green. Therefore, a determination could not be made to assess compliance with our zoning ordinance requirements. The owner of the project is Prestige Wealth Management LLC. Therefore, the owner shall own and maintain that village green. The letter submitted with the application states that there will be four guest parking spaces at the office and then each tiny home will have two parking spaces for a total of 14 parking spaces. In addition, there are five bicycle spots being proposed. There are no loading areas presented on the concept plan and it would need to be factored into the parking plan. According to section 26-1v8, every tiny home must be serviced by public sewer and water. Public water is present. However, sewer is not present in the area. Hepsa Mcbine Road is identified as a minor arterial route. The overall parcel must have permanent

paved access to Hepsuba Mcbine Road. The subject property is not within a flood zone. There are no wetlands present on the subject property. The proposal is not consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan and is not compatible with the surrounding land uses. At the time of completion of this report, there were no inquiries received by staff. However, as of this morning, I did receive one phone call um and they stated that they were in opposition. Um I do not know if they were able to make it today, but they did state that they would be present for the January 6th Augusta Commission uh to state their opposition. Uh we received comments from engineering. They stated that there's no space provided for a storm system. The road must meet Augusta standards for a road with multiple dwellings. the office or the area with the office and district ground was done without a permit um which was shown in pictures and that concludes staff presentation.

Thank you so very much. Um is the petitioner present? Okay, if you could come forth give us your name and your address and any additional details on your petition.

Good afternoon everyone. My name is Shade Kong. I live at 4090 Cuttingham Road in Augusta, Georgia. Um, I'm a little tax accountant for the government, for IRS. And I came up with this plan because I was once homeless living in my car in the DC area trying to look for a job. And one of my things that I prayed for was if I was able to get a job and I was able to get enough money, I was going to help people who are who couldn't afford to rent a home, not an apartment. So when I purchased this land, um I saw that it was a multif family unit. So when I did my research to do a construction um apartment complex that is right next door. So 1410 is an apartment building and they also do have a septic tank that is run underneath their building. Um, and that's what I was I'm going to do with this property. I was going to build the septic tank underneath the dwellings. Um, near to the front where you see the dumpster area. I was going to have the septic tanks be built underneath a large enough one to do the do the five homes. Also, um I want to apologize cuz I was lied to when I purchased the shed office. Um, he told me I didn't need a permit and I didn't know because I'm just a tax accountant and I'm just new to the Augusta area and I brought five of my clients to live here presently in Augusta area from all different parts of the United States, but um, yes, I can apologize and I've been arguing with the

shed company. Um, I also had the shed to move from where it was originally at so that if this does get approved, I can be able to have the septic tanks and then I have a meeting tomorrow with the construction company to do the water lines underneath underground and with the septic tanks that are going to be underground. Um, I don't if I don't know if I need to come back and present my whole story and give pictures or, you know, tell you the construction company, but Susan, she's the manager at Augusta Water, is aware of this whole transition and I've been communicating with Mr. Amanda by email because I'm very busy running seven companies. But this is the this is the one that's special to my heart because I not only that these people who will be renting from me is I made 14 people this year millionaires as being being a general accountant for the IRS. So my goal is to help these people financially by helping them with their taxes and their accounting for them to move into their own home. So, I used to work in tax credit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I'm from, Regal Trace Apartments, and they do an affordable um they do a incomerestricted property where you have to make at least two and a half times the rent, which is what I'm planning to do here. And I'm making each home a very affordable, meaning I will be paying for the water and the septic tank, the sewage removals, and trash. because if it's an affordable housing community does have to have that. I also am I didn't know about the shed until we tried to get the

lighting installed with Jefferson Power on the property where the zoning has denied for the power that the company AW Electric to install the pole to have power on the property. That's how I was able to come and meet Kevin and I and met Amanda when I did signed up and did the resoning last month, October. So, um, next door to me, their septic tanks is underneath, but it's a it's a apartment. It's like a eight building apartment complex. So, the owner told me he did his septic tanks underneath. And then he has a driveway which I have here like a little driveway here going to the dumpster area. So the septic tank where they would connect to will be on the other side will be the left side of the dumpster area for them to have access to remove the waste for the sewage removals. And I just I just love um accounting and I just want everybody to say that not because you live into your cart, you can't be a millionaire. And I was able to do that within a seven-year hard working determination and watching my pennies and watching how I spend my money. And that's what I train my people. So the people who do get picked to live on this tiny project, not like 30 units or 130, it's just I rather help one family at a time and five families I can start with five families where it's not even long-term leases. It will be until they can get on their feet and they can afford to live in something much bigger for their family. So, it's two bedrooms, one bath.

The picture of the um the container style home. Um it is um it is a beautiful layout. It it this is the exact color that it will be. It's almost similar to the shed color that's on the property right now. It is the same color. The concept is is going to be gray. And I want it I do not want it to look like a trailer. I want it to look like a home. So any family that I do um approve to live on the um the village as I call it as my project, it's my little village for my nonprofit organization, Prestige Wealth Management, Global Network Foundation. That's my foundation and this is what my company gifted to my nonprofit foundation is to do this project, this tiny home community. So, also the bicycle area was going to be 5x5. It's a the swirl bicycle. Sorry, I did not do the image, but it's the bicycle area is going to be 5x5 and the picnic area is going to have um a commercial grade barbecue barbecue with the picnic area. Um that area is going to be typically almost like 20 by 20 like the container home, the same size as that. Um, the land is ve I have survey going to be meeting me out there on Wednesday to do the layouts if this is approved. I didn't do anything with the water yet um with Susan cuz I didn't want to go spend $29,000 to do this whole water plumbing septic tanks installation under the ground. Um I don't know if you know but septic tanks under the ground are very expensive. So, I didn't want to. And the manager at Dollar General across the street is very excited about this

project because she's like, "Oh, she's going to have more sales in her store." So, there is a gas station, not gas station, but there is a um grocery store, general store, a mass general store across the street from the property. Um, again, the reason why I have the parking spots is because I was homeless in my car. I didn't have nowhere to live. So, even if it's someone with a car, there is enough parking spaces and the two parking spots. It's only three people can be in each home. Um, I'm going to interrupt you briefly. Uh, we appreciate your passion for your project. In the interest of time, I would love for the commissioners to be able to ask you some questions. Um, if they have any. So, do you have any final thoughts before? No, that's it.

Okay. All right. And they not going to say it, but I want to be a millionaire, too. So, are you accepting any clients? I always do. I always do. I have seven locations. Commissioner, do you have questions of the petitioner? I have a question for now. I'm not really understand you're standing. Um, regarding the underground septic system, is that the main reason why we're denying look that you all are looking to deny this? And if that's the reason, if the the um apartment complex next door is underground septic, which I would imagine has more than five units.

It has eight. Okay. It has eight units. How did that pass code? Well, what I would say is uh I would encourage you not to analyze it from a site, okay,

compliance perspective. We got a department of health, Richmond County Department of Health that handles there the authority over uh septic systems and and what it takes to get that approved. We're looking at it from a zoning perspective, whether or not the zoning is compatible, is it transitionary from the adjacent properties, and does it meet the intent of the comprehensive plan? And so I would I would encourage just to focus on it from that perspective. If this is approved, she would have to go through the engineering site plan review process which everything in that regard would be scrutinized.

Well, then I have another question in transitional if the if it's a transitional would it not be transitional if right next door they have something kind of similar? Yeah, I mean you there is transition. It's very similar to the uh the apartment situation where there was adjacent commercial or and in this case you got higher you got multifamily units that's adjacent. So it gives that transition. The question is is it um you know in terms of other aspects of the comp plan does it satisfy you know the predominant nature of what's surrounding the site. This will be the only tiny home complex in in that area.

That's because tiny homes are new to our area. So, that's going to come up, I guess, everywhere we go. Whenever someone comes up and ask for a special exception for a tiny home, it's always going to be something new to our area because tiny homes are not in Richmond County. I'm not really understanding that.

Yeah, this isn't a strong denial. It's not a strong denial. It's just we have to you know with given options staff has to evaluate you know which is stands out more oppose opposition to it or in favor of it and and you know with the with this is when staff did acknowledge all the constraints with the site. We did factor that into it as part of our the special exception and that tipped it over so to speak. But um as commissioners you you could see it from a different perspective. Um, but it it should be focused more on the on the land use and not compliance with the the site. That that's a separate process.

You good, Commissioner Spencer? Oh, I am. All right, Commissioner Smith. It it's my understanding that y'all are recommending a denial based on the current law that we have called uh the comprehensive plan. Am I correct? That yeah that that that factors into why staff is recommending that this approval. I I just want to clarify that this has nothing to do with a sewer line. This is all about the 2023 comprehensive plan passed by the government of Richmond County. Correct. For all people to follow.

Correct. Correct. Okay. So that's the basis of your uh asking for a denial, not a septic system. Right. Right. And I would say with these unique uses they are at a disadvantage because you you have predominant type uses single family and you have sometimes duplexes and those type of things. In this case it you know with the comp plan and how it breathes with these type of uses it it generally makes it a little tricky for them to be approved. But the land usage as you specify do not the the acreage does not meet our current guidelines under the 2023 comprehensive plan.

And that that comes from the the actual zoning ordinance. Um but uh Amanda, does she meet the she meets the uh size? I think she meets the size requirement. Okay. As long as Yeah. So there's a maximum size of three acres and so she does not exceed that. So she's okay with with that aspect. But the but the other portions of these things that you're have recommended now are based in the government's current ordinance. Yes. Passed in 2023. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate your answers.

All right. Commissioner Mcnite, were you in the queue? Oh my gosh. Uh, I've just got one for the applicant. Have Have you really looked at what the cost is of doing this project in detail and and you're prepared knowing that? Because Yes. Yes. That's what that's why I have my nonprofits. So, whatever money I make in accounting and my company, I do that's my give back to help families. All right. Um, additional questions from commissions. All right, Commissioner Cook.

Yes, sir. Continuence for this project.

I think it would go a long way. Um, one of the things we would probably advise that the applicant does is go reach out to the Richmond County Health Department and have them assess it, provide us with report or some type of indication of where they stand and whether or not it's a a viable option. But in addition to that, as Amanda just pointed out, um there their there criteria from our section on tiny homes, uh compared compared to what has been presented, she could work to shore up those deficiencies and address those issues. Second.

All right. Um, is the petitioner um amenable to um postponing this um for 30 days? Yes. All right. So, 30 days, Commissioner Cook. All right. So, it's been moved and properly seconded to uh postpone this petition for 30 days. All in favor? Any opposed? All right. All right. So this petition has been um postponed. Thank you.

Okay, so that takes us to companion items six and seven. Okay. A petition Z-25-45. A petition by Crankston LLC on behalf of St. Mary's Church requesting a reszoner from zone R1 one family residential and R3B multif family residential to zone R1 one federal residential excuse me for existing church affecting properties containing 5.61 61 acres located at 2500 20 2524 and 2516 McDow Street and 1405 Arsenal Avenue and 1420 Monosano Avenue stat oh number seven sorry SC25-15 petition by Crankston LLC on behalf of St. Mary Church requesting a special exception per section 26-1A of the comprehensive zoning ordinance for an existing church affecting properties containing approximately 1.73 acres located at 2500 252504 and 2516 McDow Street and 1405 Arsenal Avenue staff represent

uh before you present um commissioners I need a motion to um postpone the special ex exception that went along with that previous uh petition. Second. All right. It's been moved and properly seconded to postpone uh special uh exception 2514. All in favor? All right. Any opposed? All right. That one has also been postponed. All right. Thank you, Kevin.

All right. So, these uh last two items on the uh agenda for cases are uh more or less companion as well. They are centered with the improvements to the site of uh St. Mary's Church. Um this uh resoning request involves all uh parcels within the site. Air6 there are combination of R1 one family residential and R3B um uh multiple family residential making the request for R1 as a consolidated zone um for unifi uh a unified district. This covers um 5.61 acres. Um and this again will allow for the existing church to uh expand uh and accommodate the future site expansion. The special exception request is for all the properties when within the site with exception of the main parcel which is 1420 Monosano and uh the main parcel already has a special exception. Um this would uh this request would be a special exception for the five remaining tracks which has a total uh site area of 1.75 acres and they are currently zone R1 and R3B. Um, these parcels within the site are bound by Monosano Avenue, McDow Street, and Arsenal Avenue. And the parcels include additional parking areas, vacant land, and four separate structures. According to tax records, the Augusta Richmond County Tax Office indicate that uh St. Mary's Church building was built in 1919

though uh is not uh being included in the specific location within this request. In reviewing the application um we uh have findings here. The application uh was filed on November 4th, 2025 to reszone the properties um and to be considered by the commission conjunction with the special exception request. Churches and other religious institutions are not permitted by right in the R1 zone, but may be granted with the approval of a special exception. On November 11th, uh, 1991, the August Commission granted a special exception to allow for the expansion of the main church. And so that's why this is not 1420 is not included with the the current special exception um for the remaining tracks. Section 26-18 or comprehensive zoning ordinance uh states that churches and other religious uh institutions may be permit permitted by special exception and their respective zones if they generally conform with the f following criteria. Um the first criteria is that a tract upon which the church is to be established shall have at least 100 ft of frontage along a collector street or arterial street and must be at least uh 1/2 acre and area. Um staff response is that a church front fronts a local road but is uh has successfully operated for several decades um at this location. The next criteria is that structures shall be set back at least 25 ft from any property line separating the subject of property from residentially zoned or developed properties. Staff response is that the

main church was built along the property line of on Monosano is set back of 14 ft from Monosano, 15 ft from McDow, but these are all existing. Um the ex uh the building complies with the required 25- foot rear setback. Criteria on three is that uh off- streetet parking shall conform with section 4 of the ordinance. Um staff response according to the zoning ordinance. Uh parking for a church is calculated at one space for every three seats at in the sanctuary at full capacity. uh site plan includes uh 257 off- streetet parking spaces along with 22 on street spaces adjacent to the property. With our discussions with the applicant um it appears that they may need additional parking and so they will be coming back in subsequent meetings to address those concerns. And then the final criterion is a plan illustrating compliance with the above requirements shall be submitted to the planning commission before the proposal is placed on the agenda. The planning commission shall determine that all foregoing requirements uh have been satisfied and further that the benefits on the proposed church are greater than any possible depreciating effects or damages to the neighboring properties. And our response is that the proposed site modifications require approval um through the historic preservation commission. Additionally, plan must meet the minimum setback and parking standards outlined in the zoning ordinance. Uh item number five of the findings is that properties uh have nearby access to portable water and sewer sanitary sewer systems. Number six is that the Georgia Department of Transportation G dot

function classification map 2017 classifies Monosano Street Avenue uh McDow Street and Arsenal Avenue as local roads. The proposed development must uh satisfy the minimum off- streetet parking requirement as previously stated. Uh the nearest bus stop is situated immediately adjacent to the subject property. According to the FEMA flood insurance uh rate maps firm, the properties are not located within a special flood hazard area. Um according to the Richmond County uh GIS map, no wetlands are located on the properties. Um item number 11, the surrounding uh zoning districts are R1 and R3B uh to the north, R3B to the east. Uh R1 and R and uh B1 to the south, and B1 to the west. The property is located in the Somerville Historic District. Any new construction or exterior improvements are subject to historic preservation review and approval. the proposed changed R1 is consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan. Um I don't believe we've received any uh responses from or uh comments from the the public, but um this concludes staff's presentation.

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

Okay. Dennis Welch from with Cranston LLC. It's 452 Ellis Street is is our office. I don't have a whole lot to add other than this is uh a request to clean up zoning for these six properties. The current property, the main parcel of the church is is zoned R1 with the special exception for church use. There's another larger parcel is just zoned R1. And then the four remaining parcels on the northeast corner of of McDall, the northeast corner of the property at the intersection of McDall and Arsenal are four smaller parcels that are that are zoned R3B. And so we would like to get them all zoned R1 with the special exception so that uh it'll be ready to do a consolidation plat and get the whole thing under one one parcel and one zoning.

All right, questions um from the commissioners. Seeing none, um, anybody in the audience object to this petition? Right. Seeing none, um, staff recommendations. All right. Uh, director, uh, deputy director Vasser had to step away, so uh, you want me to just to read the resoning first, right? Okay.

All right. So, uh, planning and development staff recommends approval of the reszoning request to R1 and one family residential with the following conditions. The historic preservation commission HPC uh, approval and subsequent um, issuance of a certificate of appropriate appropriateness COA will be required prior to commencement of any exterior changes to the parcels. Uh the development must comply with all aspects of the Augusta tree ordinance. Approval of the resoning does not constitute approval of a conceptual site plan submitted with the resoning application of proposed development shall obtain site plan approval in compliance with the site plan regulations of Augusta, Georgia prior to construction um commencing on the property. And finally, a proposed development of the property shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forth by the city of Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, as amended at the time of development. And that concludes stat uh recommendation.

All right, chair will entertain a motion to approve, Mr. Chairman. All right. Has been moved and seconded to approve this agenda item. All in favor? All right. opposed. All right. So, this particular portion has been approved. Um, now moving to the special exception. Um, is there any additional to report on that? No additional item. All right. Um, could you read the recommendations?

All right. So, this is mirroring the uh resoning request identical conditions, but planning staff recommends approval of the special exception with the following conditions. um that the Historic Preservation Commission HPC approval and subsequent issuance of a certificate of appropriateness COA will be required prior to commencement of any exterior changes to the parcels and that's that's building related not parking. Um the uh development must comply with all aspects of the Augusta tree ordinance. Approval of the of the special exception does not constitute approval of the conceptual site plan submitted with the special exception application. The proposed development shall attain site plan approval in compliance of the site plan regulations of Augusta, Georgia prior to construction commencing on the property. And lastly, the development of the property shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forth by the city of Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, as amended at the time of the

All right. You accept those recommendations, sir? Yes, sir. All right. Um, chair will entertain a motion. Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve this special exception. All in favor? All right. Opposed. All right. Thank you, sir. Both of those items will be moved to the Augusta Commission on January 6th with the approval recommendation. All right. So, that brings us to the end of the agenda items. Is there anything from legal session? All right. Um, I need a motion to approve the November uh meeting minutes.

All right. has been moved and seconded to accept the um approve the November meeting minutes. All in favor? All right. Any opposed? All right. So, now that brings us to we got to do the election of our 2026 um chair and vice chair. Hey, lock. Don't leave. So, open the floor. All right. So, so we'll uh we'll open it up with the nominations for vice chair. For chairman first, you want to do chairman first? I do vice for vice chair. Okay. Can Can I make a nomination as the as the chairman? I'd like to nominate you. The commissioner Stephanie Clark to remain the vice chairman. Okay.

Who was that? Prince. Mhm. Anybody have another motion? Any more nominations on the floor?

All right. We got We got a motion to close the nomination. Do we have a second for vice chair? All right. Um, so being that Commissioner Clark is the only one, uh, do you accept the vice chairman for 2026? All right. All right. So now we'll take nominations for the chairman for 2026. To nominate chairman. Second. Second. You didn't see that coming. All right. All right. Well, if the nominations are closed, y'all good. You accept again? I accept again. Yeah. As as long as Commissioner O'Neal, let me bring back the bus tour.

Oh my god. You can't get the end of that one. Okay. All right. And Okay. And so, um, the list of development is only for information purposes. So, um, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Thank you. All right. Merry Christmas everybody. See y'all in the new year. Congratulations. Which one you are? Merry