These fools better git 'er done before something much, much worse appears in their backyard. This is at a major I-520 interchange with Wheeler Road, and they are not going to get West Lake II in there if the hotel drops its plans. Wake up, folks.
The Kingston Neighborhood Association and Curtis Baptist Foundation came to an agreement Tuesday involving plans for a hotel on land owned by the baptist organization near Kingston subdivision.
Don Cheeks, the spokesman for the Curtis Baptist Foundation, met with the neighborhood association's president, Brian Prince, Tuesday morning and agreed that no back lighting would be used to illuminate a Marriott Hotel to be constructed on Marks Church Road. Mr. Cheeks also noted that an 8-foot wood fence would be built around the hotel.
The agreement comes two weeks after residents from the subdivision, which is off Marks Church Road, voiced their concerns to Augusta commissioners about building the two-story, $30 million hotel. Mr. Cheeks, on behalf of the Curtis Baptist Foundation, requested to have a zoning change approved by commissioners April 15 for the 11.4 acres of land in question. The foundation plans to sell the land to the Marriott Hotel, but would first need the zoning change, taking it from a commercial area with limitations to a general business area.
Commissioners had called for Mr. Cheeks and Mr. Prince to come to a final resolution.
Part of their agreement, having no back lighting, will reduce light that could reach Kingston, said George Patty, Augusta's Planning Commission director. The fence should also deter people from "jumping the fence," a concern of some residents.
Mr. Cheeks said the hotel could bring more than $1.25 million per year in taxes to Richmond County.
Andre Wingo, who lives on Dominica Drive behind the site where the hotel is planned, said he is not convinced the agreement will settle the matter. Hotel patrons will still have access into Kingston, and the business could cause sewage problems for residents, he said.
Augusta commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to approve the zoning change.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
These fools better git 'er done before something much, much worse appears in their backyard. This is at a major I-520 interchange with Wheeler Road, and they are not going to get West Lake II in there if the hotel drops its plans. Wake up, folks.
Way to go Brian... we do however need that hotel and the one in the old Jail house spot.
I'm sorry but I couldn't help but chuckle! You have an expensive hotel like the Marriott and I understand about the 8 ft. fence but I just can't help but think, patrons paying that kind of price for a hotel room, I seriously doubt they are going to be jumping the fence.
A good example for Augusta, instead of going to war (and probably losing) the neighborhood met with the builders and got what they wanted.
it not a high end Marriott but one of their lower price hotels,
which will more than likely draw the military trade on the weekends.
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