HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 7169 AMEND CITY CODE SEC 2-4I
ORDINANCE NO. 7169
An Ordinance to Amend the Augusta Richmond County Code so as to amend Section 2 -4 by
adding a new subsection 22 entitled "Harrisburg /West End Enterprise Zone "; to provide an
effective date, to repeal conflicting Ordinances and for other purposes.
Be It Ordained by the Augusta Richmond County Commission, and it is hereby ordained by
authority of same as follows:
SECTION 1. The Augusta Richmond County Code, Section 2 -4, is amended by adding a new
Section 2 -4 -22 which reads as follows:
2 -4 -22 Designation of "Harrisburg /West End Enterprise Zone ".
The Augusta Richmond County Commission hereby designates the area hereafter
described as an Enterprise Zone to be known as the "Harrisburg/ West End Enterprise
Zone" to wit:
BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION
Beginning at a point where the south bank of the Savannah River intersects the
centerline of Thirteenth Street; thence, in a southwesterly direction along the
centerline of Thirteenth Street to a point located at the intersection of Thirteenth
Street and Greene Street; thence, in an easterly direction along the centerline of
Greene Street to a point located at the intersection of Greene Street and Twelfth
Street; thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Twelfth Street;
thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Twelfth Street to a
point located at the intersection of Twelfth Street and D'Antignac Street; thence,
in a northwesterly direction along the centerline of D'Antignac Street to a point
located on the centerline of Thirteenth Street becoming R. A. Dent Boulevard;
thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of R. A. Dent Boulevard
to a point located where the Laney Walker Boulevard intersects; thence,
extending in a northwesterly direction along the northeast right -of -way line of
Laney- Walker Boulevard to a point located on the centerline of Fifteenth Street;
thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Fifteenth Street to a
point located on the centerline of Walton Way; thence, in a westerly direction
along the centerline of Walton Way to a point located on the centerline of
Hickman Road; thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of
Hickman Road (following the west boundary line of Census Tract 2) to a point
located on the centerline of Gardner Street; thence, following the west boundary
line of Census Tract 2 east along the centerline of Gardner Street then
northwesterly direction back to the centerline of Hickman Road to a point located
at the intersection of Telfair Street; thence, in a westerly direction along the
centerline of Telfair Street to a point located on the centerline of Milledge Road;
thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Milledge Road to a
point located on the centerline line of Broad Street; thence, in a northwesterly
DESIGNATION OF HARRISBURG/WEST END AS AN ENTERPRISE ZONE
MARCH 5 2010
ENTERPRISE ZONE CRITERIA
The proposal is to designate the traditional Harrisburg and West End neighborhoods plus an
adjoining similar area to the east as an Enterprise Zone pursuant to the Enterprise Zone
Empowerment Act as amended (O.C. G. A. § 36- 88 -1). The area consists of Census Tracts 2, 3
and 8 as defined in the 2000 Census, and it is bordered generally by the following:
Beginning at a point where the south bank of the Savannah River intersects the
centerline of Thirteenth Street; thence, in a southwesterly direction along the
centerline of Thirteenth Street to a point located at the intersection of Thirteenth
Street and Greene Street; thence, in_ an easterly direction along the centerline of
Greene Street to a point located at the intersection of Greene Street and Twelfth
Street; thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Twelfth Street;
thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of Twelfth Street to a
point located at the intersection of Twelfth Street and D'Antignac Street; thence,
in a northwesterly direction along the centerline of D'Antignac Street to a point
located on the centerline of Thirteenth Street becoming R. A. Dent Boulevard;
thence, in a southwesterly direction along the centerline of R. A. Dent Boulevard
to a point located where the Laney Walker Boulevard intersects; thence,
extending in a northwesterly direction along the northeast right -of -way line of
Laney - Walker Boulevard to a point located on the centerline of Fifteenth Street;
thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Fifteenth Street to a
point located on the centerline of Walton Way; thence, in a westerly direction
along the centerline of Walton Way to a point located on the centerline of
Hickman Road; thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of
Hickman Road (following the west boundary line of Census Tract 2) to a point
located on the centerline of Gardner, Street; thence, following the west boundary
line of Census Tract 2 east along the centerline of Gardner Street then
northwesterly direction back to the centerline of Hickman Road to a point located
at the intersection of Telfair Street; thence, in a westerly direction along the
centerline of Telfair Street to a point located on the centerline of Milledge Road;
thence, in a northeasterly direction along the centerline of Milledge Road to a
point located on the centerline line of Broad Street; thence, in a northwesterly
direction along the centerline of Broad Street to a point located on the west bank
of Lake Olmstead; thence, extending along the north boundary of Census Tract 2
along the north boundary of Lake Olmstead and continuing east along the north
boundary of Census Tract 2 across River Watch Parkway to the south bank of the
Savannah River; thence, in a southeasterly direction along the south bank of the
Savannah River to the point of beginning.
The Harrisburg and West End neighborhoods constitute a large residential area that developed
for the most part between 1797 and the 1930's. It includes a variety of housing types and styles,
some of which is mill housing. The mill housing was constructed in the 1880's for workers of
the King and Sibley Mills that are located in the neighborhoods on the Augusta Canal, and for
other mills in the surrounding area. Also in the district are many churches, schools, and
commercial buildings. The mills are all closed with one small exception and today employment
opportunities in the area are limited to commercial service and retail business located within the
area.
The area essentially between Thirteenth Street and Fifteenth Street that is immediately east of the
Harrisburg/West End neighborhoods was once indistinguishable from those neighborhoods. The
Enterprise Mill has been converted to a mixed use facility, the Sutherland Mill is closed, and the
Augusta Medical Complex is located where mill housing once stood. Still, the area is
underdeveloped and meets the criteria for designation.
The O.C. G. A. at 36 -88 -6 says that "in order to be designated as an enterprise zone, a nominated
area shall meet at least three of the five criteria specified in subsection (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of
the Code Section." Our research indicates that the proposed Harrisburg/West End Enterprise
Zone clearly meets four of the five criteria (a -d) qualifying it for designation:
1. Pervasive Poverty — The Georgia Code requires that for parcels within the nominated
area, the parcels must be within or adjacent to a census block group where the ratio of
income to poverty level for at least 15 percent of the residents shall be less than 1.0. The
census block groups within the proposed area range from 30.3% to 58.5% of the
residents above the poverty level. This information was obtained from the 2000 Census
of Population and Housing.
2. Unemployment — The Georgia code requires that the average rate of unemployment for
the nominated area for the preceding full calendar year be at least 10 percent higher than
the state average rate of unemployment. The state rate of unemployment for 2008 was
6.2% and the 2008 unemployment for the area was 12.5 %, approximately 100% greater
than the state average. This information was obtained from the Georgia Department of
Labor for 2008, the most recent full year for which information is available.
3. General Distress — The Georgia Code requires evidence of adverse conditions other than
those of pervasive poverty such as a high incidence of crime, abandoned or dilapidated
structures, deteriorated infrastructure, and substantial population loss. Records of the
Sheriff's department indicate that in 2009 there were 31,000 incident reports county wide
of which 2,490 were in the proposed enterprise zone. This represents 8 percent of all
reports. The area contains 3 percent of the County's population per the 1990 census, so
the rate is 2.7 times as high in the area as it is in the entire City.' The License and
Inspection department has 275 "open" cases involving property maintenance, 11 are
forced demolitions, 137 involve lot conditions, and the other are varied. A recent study
in the area indicates that 14% of all units are vacant, and 77% of occupied units are
rentals. The City has forced the demolition of 28 units in the area since 2000. The
population loss in the area has indeed been substantial, as the total population declined
from 6,294 to 5,628 between 1990 and 2000. That is a total loss of 666 residents or
10.6 %. During the decade the population of Augusta Richmond County increased by
10,056. This information was obtained from the 2000 Census of Population and
Housing.
4. Underdevelopment - The Georgia Code requires evidence that development activities, or
lack thereof, through land disturbance permits, business licenses, building permits,
development fees, or similar data indicates that the level of development in the nominated
area is lower than within the local government's jurisdiction. During 2009 there were no
subdivisions of land within the proposed area although 161 new lots were created within
the County. There were only two site plans approved in the area, the Kroc Center and a
Krystal restaurant, although there were 124 approved in the County. There were no first
year business licenses issued in the study area in spite of 660 issued county wide
according to the License and Inspection department. There were only 10 new housing
units permitted in the area although there were 418 county wide. The forgoing clearly
demonstrates a lack of development activity in the proposed Enterprise Zone.
direction along the centerline of Broad Street to a point located on the west bank
of Lake Olmstead; thence, extending along the north boundary of Census Tract 2
along the north boundary of Lake Olmstead and continuing east along the north
boundary of Census Tract 2 across River Watch Parkway to the south bank of the
Savannah River; thence, in a southeasterly direction along the south bank of the
Savannah River to the point of beginning.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
SECTION 3. All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby
repealed.
Duly adopted by the Augusta - Richmond County Commission this 16 day of
March , 2010.
MAYOR, AUG STA COMMISSION
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
ATTEST:
,CLERK
First Reading: March- 16,_ 2010 _
Second ReacVlSk: - waive
CERTIFICATION
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The undersigne Clerk of Commission, , hereby certifies that
the foregoing Ordinance was duly adopted by the Augusta - Richmond County
Commission on MaRCH 16 , 2010 and that such Ordinance has not been
modified or rescinded as of the date hereof and the undersigned further certifies
that attached hereto is a true copy of the Ordinance which was approved and
adopted in the foregoing meeting(s).
6 "��
T Clerk of Commission
Published in the Augusta Chronicle.
Date March 25, 2010
First Reading - march 16 , 2010
Second Reading Wai -
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