City officials gathered Thursday and Friday to plot the future of North Augusta during an annual study session.
While the city expects continued growth, North Augusta Forward allowed City Administrator Sam Bennett a chance to start a discussion about how to handle that growth.
Transportation, recreation and annexation issues were hot topics, and Bennett said they will come up frequently during budget approvals this year.
"This is just so they know what's out there and have priorities in their mind when they head into future meetings," Bennett said.
The following is a compilation of continued issues and questions raised by North Augusta Forward:
Q: Should we move forward with the planning and limited development of the Five Notch Regional Park?
A: Yes. Current status: Additional acreage was purchased in April of 2008 with funds set aside in the FY 2008 Budget for planning and limited development. We will continue to pursue outside funding sources for this project.
Q: Should we continue the development of the North Augusta Greeneway System to include extensions and connectors into neighborhoods?
A: Yes. Current status: We are continuing with the acquisition of the property needed for this connector. An offer has been made on the final tract needed for this connector. No response has been received from the property owner as of this date.
Q: Should we continue with the planned development of Community Parks as new residential communities are built?
A: Yes. Current Status: Only discussions with the property owners have taken place at this point in time, since there has been limited development.
Q: Do we continue to pursue options for remote connectivity to promote a mobile work force?
A: Yes. Current Status: Funds were budgeted in the 2008 budget to deploy Verizon broadband wireless cards in lap tops in Public Safety, Economic and Community Development and Building Standards. Additional Funding will be requested in the future budgets.
Q: Do we begin pursuing acquisition of land for Station III in the Clearwater Road/I-520 area? If so, when?
A: Yes. Current status: Waiting on completion of I-520
Q: Do we work actively in annexing the I-520 corridor prior to completion?
A: Yes. Current Status: Preliminary evaluations of several parcels have been reviewed but no annexations have been initiated to date. Speculation on property has not progressed to the point of initiating requests of water service. Aiken County has amended its development of regulations to require new subdivisions adjacent to the right of way to provide connections to the Greeneway.
Q: Do we as a staff look at our natural boundaries and develop an annexation strategy based on these boundaries?
A: Yes. Current status: Research in Edgefield County has progressed and several properties have been identified as potential annexation opportunities at such time that utility service is requested or contiguity is achieved.
Reach Julia sellers at julia.sellers@northaugustatoday.com
