Developers ask to expand proposed Columbia County subdivision to almost 800 homes

Joe Hotchkiss, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
This map shows the master plan for the proposed Tillery Park development in Columbia County. Baker Place Road can be seen in the top left of the map, curving southward from Interstate 20.
This map shows the master plan for the proposed Tillery Park development in Columbia County. Baker Place Road can be seen in the top left of the map, curving southward from Interstate 20.

Developers want to turn a Columbia County tree farm with a small cemetery into a subdivision that would contain almost 800 homes.

Applicants CSRA Development and Ivey Development filed a request Jan. 20 to rezone a 31-acre land tract to add an eighth section to the planned Tillery Park subdivision off Baker Place Road.

The proposed 67 lots in the section, called Tillery Park South, would contain houses sized between 2,300 and 3,800 square feet, according to a concept plan submitted to Columbia County planning staff.

The entire subdivision, when completed, would cover nearly 300 acres of land used to cultivate timber since the Tillery family sold the property in the mid-1950s.

Tillery Park's 789 lots vary in size from 1,280 to 7,800 square feet – or just shy of two-tenths of an acre. The lots will accommodate single-family homes from 1,500 square feet to more than twice that size. About 96 of the dwellings will be single-family-attached units.

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The development plan, first submitted to the county in June 2020, outlines a subdivision that the developers describe as “the only new community in Columbia County with room for soccer, football and t-ball/baseball fields.”

This undated photo accompanying the Tillery Park concept plan shows homes in another development to illustrate the architectural style and color schemes expected in Tillery Park.
This undated photo accompanying the Tillery Park concept plan shows homes in another development to illustrate the architectural style and color schemes expected in Tillery Park.

The map for Tillery Park is dotted with several parks – some with playground equipment and small sports fields to more passive and natural parks connected to low-impact walking trails. The 104-plus acres of greenspace comprise 35% of the entire development.

The cemetery on the property has been delineated by an archaeologist and will remain undisturbed, according to the plan.

With houses in low supply and high demand nationwide in recent months, builders have been working steadily to increase available inventory. More than one-third of U.S. single-family homes sold in December were newly constructed, real estate firm Redfin reported Monday.

The Columbia County Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the Tillery Park rezoning request at its Feb. 17 meeting.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Builders look to add almost 800 homes to Columbia County subdivision