On Nov. 1st, newly approved impact fees took effect in North Augusta. It means that in the future, new developments are subject to fees from $2,315 for residential customers with the smallest meter and up to $90,000 for a new commercial building.
Funds raised will go toward parks and recreation, sanitation, and water.
A developer of “The Hive” was candid with business leaders at a recent North Augusta Chamber event.
Lauren McCarthy, Division Vice President for Stanley Homes, provided the renderings. She told ABD that the new fees will influence future development in North Augusta. They will add to the costs; however, she acknowledges it is something home builders and developers will have to deal with.
“As a developer of communities, we do have to improve the structure. We have to improve sewer, we have to improve storm water, and we have to improve access, which means roads, but roads are also available to the entire community. So, I think that’s where it takes participation from everyone involved,” she said, adding, “The current impact fees are largely going to parks and recreation, which is important to North Augusta, as well as to builders. We currently put in recreation facilities, parks, and green spaces in communities. So, I think that’s where some of the balance needs to come from.”
Stanley Homes is creating single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments for The Hive, the largest project currently underway. It is also building single-family homes in Martintown Ridge, off W. Martintown Road.
The Hive is a 175-acre planned community located off Interstate 20’s exit one. In addition to residential, it will also have commercial and retail development, including stores and a hotel. McKnight Engler is developing those components.
“The townhome section and our first single-family section are well under development, and then we have our final section, which still needs to be cleared, and roads built, and that sort of thing,” she explained. “At this time, we are looking at opening our first single-family homes for sale in the summer of 2026, and then our townhomes will be open towards the end of the year.”
During the question-and-answer period, McCarthy was asked about plans to protect existing green spaces and trees.
“I guess a misnomer is that we just want to go in and clear-cut everything. That’s not necessarily the way that we operate. But what we do have to consider is that while building roads and building houses, we can damage trees and we weaken them, which then presents a problem on the flip side,” she said. “We do try to make up for the trees we have to take out. We do plant landscaping and planting trees that will grow.”
In addition to The Hive and Martintown Ridge, residential units are being built for Sweetwater at Riverside, near SRP Park. The three multi-family buildings are named Riverview, Stadium North, and Lakeside.
Details on those units are at https://sweetwaterriverside.com/
More information about The Hive is at https://thehivena.com/
