Homes planned near National

A British sports hospitality firm is again proposing to construct residential buildings off Berckmans Road near the southeast corner of Augusta National Golf Club.

Byrom PLC has submitted plans to build nearly 100,000 square feet of residential buildings on a 2.3-acre tract at the corner of Wicklow and Margate drives. A previous plan to develop a 16-unit condominium complex at the same site was rejected by the Augusta Planning Commission in 2014.

The Manchester-based company's revised plans, currently under review by the city Planning and Development Department, depict seven two-story structures on vacant property across the street from the Towne Club condominium complex.

The five parcels of land, situated between the West Terrace and Berckman Hills neighborhoods, were previously occupied by single-family homes. Real estate records show Byrom acquired the tracts in 2013 for a combined $3.01 million.

The site plans refer to the development as "International Village Properties." A Byrom spokesman said via email that the development's name has not been finalized.

"The International Village was a working title for the project," he said. "However, it will not be retained."

Byrom's website says the firm provides "unparalleled expertise in the management of the world's greatest sporting events over the last 30 years." The company owns residential properties in Manchester, London, Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro.

"It is the first presence in Augusta and it is developing real estate, not operating facilities," the Byrom spokesman said.

He declined to disclose what the development represented in terms of a capital investment, but confirmed it will be in the multimillion-dollar range.

"This is a major investment by Byrom into Augusta," he said.

Byrom's website says the company is a leader in "the design and delivery of the best hospitality products on offer at the most sought-after sports programmes in the world." Among other things, it is the official hospitality provider for the international soccer organization FIFA. Byrom also provides hospitality services for tennis, rugby and auto racing events.

The property is within walking distance of Augusta National. The company's engineering plans show a wall around the development, with a private drive that enters near the Wicklow-Berckmans intersection and empties at Margate Drive, just north of Margate Circle. The Byrom spokesman said it has not decided whether the private drive will be gated.

The property, which slopes 40 feet from top to bottom, abuts a private residence on the northwest corner and an Augusta National-owned tract at the northeast corner. A 6,800-square-foot retention pond would occupy the property's southwest corner.

The largest of the seven buildings shown on engineering plans is 23,052 square feet; the smallest is 9,314. The buildings are large by any residential standard – the average new single-family home is 2,600 square feet, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The Byrom spokesman declined to comment on the number of people the homes would accommodate at full occupancy.

The surrounding neighborhood consists primarily of 1,600- to 1,800-square-foot ranch-style homes built in the 1960s and '70s. When asked about the architectural style of the homes, the spokesman said "they will be in keeping with the location" and will conform to the property's current residential zoning.

Byrom's 2014 plan for the property was rejected by the Planning Commission over concerns that the high-density development would be out of character with the neighborhood.

Byrom's spokesman said the buildings would contain amenities found in a typical home, including master bedroom suites, walk-in closets and adjoining rooms that could be used as a nursery or study.

Planning and Development Department officials say the developer is updating its grading, erosion and sediment-control plans. The project's site plan revisions are on the Planning Commission's meeting agenda Monday.

The Byrom spokesman said construction would begin "immediately" if its plans are approved.

The company's engineering plans identify the firm's local representative as Brian Hendry. The native of Scotland was a member of The Patch in Augusta LLC, the firm that was briefly contracted in 2012 to manage Augusta Municipal Golf Course on Highland Avenue.