20-1

Permitted uses:

(a)

General offices where no retail or wholesale sales are conducted resulting in the exchange of goods on the premises and where no vehicles or equipment other than standard passenger vehicles (cars, vans, and pickup trucks) are parked or stored on the premises.

(b)

Physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, and similar professional uses which may occupy an entire building or group of buildings.

(c)

Deleted.

(d)

Branch banks or other financial institutions.

(e)

Freestanding automated teller machines.

(f)

Deleted.

(g)

Provision of the following services where no retail or wholesale activities are conducted on the premises: insurance, finance, mortgage, accounting, appraisal, business consultant, real estate, and other similar services.

(h)

Beauty shops, barber shops.

(i)

Uses customarily incidental to any of the above uses located within the same building or group of buildings and accessory buildings, when located on the same lot, including garages for the use of patrons and for employees.

(j)

Public parking areas, when located and developed as in Section 4 and where the area adjoins a use other than provided for in the R-1 Zone, provided such transitional use does not extend more than one hundred (100) feet from the boundary of the less restricted zone.

(k)

Fence, walls. A fence, latticework screen, or wall in a required side or rear yard shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. A fence, latticework screen, or wall located in a required front yard shall be limited to four (4) feet in height. Any fence, wall, or landscape feature located at the corner of intersection streets described in Section 3-6 of this Ordinance shall be subject to additional restrictions discussed in that subsection.

(l)

Any office or professional use which is similar in character or nature to the above mentioned uses upon approval and resolution of the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission may be permitted in a P-1 zone.

20-2

Special exceptions. The following Specials Exceptions shall apply in a P-1 Zone and may be permitted upon approval of the location by the Augusta Commission:

(a)

Facilities for public or private assembly such as conference center, convention centers, meeting rooms, hospitality facilities (if utilized for more than fourteen total days per calendar year), and facilities utilized for similar social events. Applications for special exceptions pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by supportive documentation which describes in detail the This supporting documentation shall illustrate conformity to the following objective and subjective criteria. Special exceptions granted pursuant to this subsection shall be specifically for the use described, and they shall be invalid and automatically rescinded if the use changes substantially or ceases to exist for a period of one year:

(1)

Exterior lighting shall be designed so that the light is reflected away from adjacent properties;

(2)

If there are any single-family residences on adjoining properties then all outdoor activities shall cease at 11:00 P.M.;

(3)

Only one sign per street front shall be permitted. Such sign may identify the business only, not to exceed 24 square feet in area, and extend not higher than six feet above the ground. No such sign may be internally lighted;

(4)

Alcoholic beverages may not be sold on the premises. An open bar where guests are not charged for drinks may be provided;

(5)

The volume of amplified sound shall be kept at such a level that it is not audible from any single-family residence;

(6)

Parking facilities shall be provided as the staff deems necessary;

(7)

The design and scale of any improvements shall be consistent with the surrounding area;

(8)

Improvements shall conform to all appropriate provisions of the Tree Ordinance; and

(9)

Additional conditions may be imposed if deemed appropriate to the proposed use and location.

(b)

Any use set forth in the R-3C zone, subject to the restrictions and regulations of the R-3C Zone.

20-3

Height. Not to exceed three (3) stories nor higher than fifty-five (55) feet.

20-4

Setbacks:

Front yard. The front yard setback provisions of the R-3A Zone shall apply to the P-1 Zone;

Side yard. The side yard setback provisions of the R-3A Zone shall apply to the P-1 Zone;

Rear yard. The rear yard setback provisions of the R-3A Zone shall apply to the P-1 Zone.

20-5

Maximum individual building area. No individual building, whether freestanding or attached as part of a planned center or similar group of buildings, may be constructed in excess of 15,000 gross square feet in area after the effective date of the Ordinance amendment.

20-6

Special exceptions. Any use established as a result of a Special Exception granted per Subsection 20-2 must be initiated within six (6) months of the granting, or the Special Exception shall no longer be valid. The initiation of a use is established by the issuance of a valid business license by the Augusta Planning and Development Department or by other reasonable proof of the establishment of vested rights. If a Special Exception is granted and the use is initiated but later ceases to operate for a period of one (1) year, then the Special Exception shall no longer be valid.

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Amended June 2005, Section 20-1(l)

Amended Sept. 2004, Section 20-6

BUSINESS DISTRICT CLASSIFICATIONS