The North Augusta Planning Commission approved the rezoning of about two dozen parcels of land to bring them up to proper zoning standards Thursday.
The city requested that the properties, including the Brick Pond Park and several plots owned by the Aiken County School District, be rezoned for their current usage. The Brick Pond Park, for example, was zoned for planned development during Hammond's Ferry construction, but is now zoned as a critical area to protect the wetlands area.
Residents of East Town, a subdivision next to North Augusta Elementary on East Spring Grove Avenue, were concerned about the school district's intentions for the rezoning. Two parcels, about an acre of land between the school entrance and the neighborhood, was rezoned from residential to public use.
Residents were concerned the school district would use the rezoning to place mobile classrooms and buses next to their homes, possibly lowering their property values.
Commission Chair Woods Burnett said the zoning change didn't change the school district's right's for using that land.
School district Deputy Superintendent David Caver reassured residents that there are no plans for construction or expansion of the school in the near future and the use of that land would not change.
Caver said the land is a state-required buffer between the school and residential areas. The school has no use for portables at this time.
