| GENERAL RESIDENTIAL ZONING PROPOSAL |
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The City Council approved the long range Comprehensive Plan for the City. Many were on the fence with
this, due to the fact that higher density residential zoning was combined with single family to create
a "General" residential category. But this Comprehensive Plan is just that....a plan.
Next step is "detailed in-depth neighborhood zoning reviews". This will be the step where we need to
ensure that multi-unit developments are not allowable where it is inappropriate.
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| AUGUSTA HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT |
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Our Community is facing a project similar to the Biltmore/Pearl project. It is a 3 acre site on Augusta Road where the Parrish house is located next to Augusta Heights Baptist Church, near Mauldin Road. One of the Partners in the Biltmore/Pearl Project is involved with this group (Prestwick Developers, Atlanta, GA). While the site is outside of our neighborhood, it still affects our quality of life. Lauren Briles has been spearheading the fact gathering and opposition. It appears that the consensus of the people most affected by this development is that three story townhomes (market rate rents) on prime Augusta Road property is not in the best interest of long-term development in that area. To be clear up front...this is not about "affordable housing", it's about owners/developers/ partners being vested in our community's success for the long term. Because the zoning is already in place, there is a chance that this project may become reality. This development makes sense to the developer because the State of South Carolina may provide tax credits. The credits are awarded on a competitive basis with the goal of providing affordable housing. Lauren has provided a letter that you may send to the program Director if you feel strongly about it. Currently, there is no Community input involved in the criteria for awards. The City has a need for affordable housing but there are properties identified for such use. The Council is working on Design Guidelines for such projects that would better integrate the project, should it become reality. David Sudduth is your best Council contact at this time to answer questions. Lauren is looking for some support and I hope that we can band together and give her some encouragement!
As part of the City process, there must be a neighborhood meeting. This meeting has been set for
Thursday, May 28th @ 6:00pm at the Augusta Heights Baptist Fellowship Hall. Having a large number of
people show up can make a difference!
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| BIKE PATHS |
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**APRIL 13 UPDATE:
At our meeting in February, city planners spoke and proposed that bringing bicycle infrastructure to the Alta Vista Neighborhood is a fantastic way to reduce vehicle speeds while increasing safety by narrowing lane widths. Bringing the city's growing bicycle network into our neighborhood will help to safely connect Alta Vista to downtown Greenville and the city's Trails & Greenways. Expanding the city's bicycle nework onto McDaniel Avenue (Woodland Way to Augusta St.) is an important way for the City to increase its environmentally friendly transportation options. Residents' concern over the proposed bike paths included loss of residential parking on McDaniel and the inability for residents to put yard debris on the street. AVNA is contacting city officials to discuss both of these issues and will have more updates soon! What we do know is that resident approval is required to install bike lanes. CLICK HERE to let us know your views on this proposal. This could happen in the Spring! A big thanks to Andrew Meeker for speaking about this issue at our last meeting. Andrew has provided his phone number and the following details for anyone who would like to request more information: 864.467.4345 Bicycle Lane A bicycle lane is a portion of the roadway that has been designated for the preferential use of bicyclists. To create bicycle lanes on McDaniel, a new white line will be striped on the right edge of the existing lanes and marked with bicycle symbols & signs.
Sharrow A shared lane pavement marking (or "sharrow") are bicycle symbols that are placed in the roadway lane
indicating that motorists should expect to see and share the lane with bicycles. The roadway between Cleveland St and
Crescent St. is too narrow to add bike lanes; sharrows are proposed to be used here.
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| PEARL STREET PARCEL |
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The owner of the Pearl Street parcel is considering subdividing the property into 6 approx. ½ Acre lots.
Details included in the two attachments.... The Haynie-Sirrine Master Plan called for approximately 27
town homes. While this proposal has not been discussed with the Haynie-Sirrine group, Bo Brownell,
representing the owner, offers the following
LETTER and
LAND PLAT.
What are your thoughts? CLICK HERE to let your thoughts be known. If this plan were approved and executed as owner occupied, this would benefit our neighborhood. |