Petitioner Keon Williams wins rezoning for five townhomes at 827 7th Street

The Augusta Commission approved a rezoning request to allow five attached dwelling units at 827 7th Street, planning staff said.

Amanda Cruz, Planner I, summarized the application (Z-2604) to rezone a 0.34-acre parcel from Light Industrial to R-3B to develop five townhome units: a duplex with two one-bedroom units and a triplex with three two-bedroom units. Cruz said the concept plan shows 10 off-street parking spaces, eight of them within garages, and that the proposal is consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan’s Old Augusta character-area guidance for infill and mixed uses. Review comments included an ADA ramp required at 7th and Taylor Streets and utility and driveway adjustments; traffic engineering determined a full traffic study was not required.

Keon Williams, the petitioner, joined by phone and described his and his wife’s interest in creating small downtown housing. “We are both disabled veterans,” Williams said. “We always wanted to live in a downtown environment... we want to beautify it up and move in and just call downtown our home.”

Planning staff recommended approval with five conditions: sidewalks on 7th and Taylor Streets; compliance with the Augusta tree ordinance; a 10-foot undisturbed tree buffer along side and rear boundaries; required site-plan approval prior to construction; and compliance with the city of Augusta and Richmond County development standards as amended at the time of development. The petitioner accepted the staff recommendations.

A motion to approve the rezoning was moved and seconded; the chair called the question and commissioners voted in favor ('Aye'). The rezoning to R-3B was approved and will proceed to required site-plan and permitting steps before construction.

The commission then approved the March meeting minutes and adjourned the session.