West Columbia Residents Voice Concerns at Planning Commission Meeting
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Just over a month ago, the air was thick with uncertainty as residents started to voice their worries over a possible housing development in West Columbia. Last night, this buzz of concern turned into action at a packed planning commission meeting where community voices shaped the discussion.
At the center of it all was a proposal by developers and engineers to construct 55 new homes on Comanchee Trail, complete with three to four parking spaces per lot. Priced between $225,000 and $300,000 each, the proposal has become a cause for apprehension among many residents in the area.
One resident standing at the podium captured the tone of the evening perfectly: “One word, safety.” Another questioned, “Couldn’t you also just zone it to be a park? Does that just kind of throw it away?” These reflections resonated deeply with dozens of neighbors who felt the need to express their views regarding the new housing plan.
While many residents mentioned they are not opposed to development, they’re looking for “reasonable development.” About a month earlier, the developers had pitched an idea for a much larger 90-unit townhome complex. Now, they returned to propose a smaller 55 single-family home plan along with a request for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) status that includes space for potential commercial use.
Chad Rast, vice president of O’Cain Construction Company, explained the reasoning behind this shift. “They wanted to retain a 7,500 square foot space for the possibility of placing a future cell phone tower on this property. So in staying in compliance with their request in relation to our land contract with them, the only way we could do this was through a PUD,” Rast stated.
The concerns raised by attendees were broad-reaching, spanning traffic congestion, green space availability, and storm water management. Some residents found it puzzling to consider this new development when at least three other housing projects are already underway nearby. “When you ask them why are you trying to bring this in, they had no rationale for it. They haven’t proposed any kind of density study or marketing assessment,” expressed resident Diane Conner.
Amidst these discussions, Malinda Rutledge Carlisle expressed hope, saying, “I believe we were heard. I truly hopefully, there will be some good outcomes.”
Planning commission chair Gary Prince took the opportunity to present a counter-argument. “He’s got the ability to build 55 homes no matter what. Would you rather him just come build homes, or would you rather him build homes with some restrictions that we control?” Such thoughts aimed to spark a perspective shift among the audience.
Then, Mayor Tem Miles weighed in, expressing his favor for the PUD approach. “I very much like the idea of doing it as a PUD if we’re going to do it because we can get those upgrades to what the development is going to be and give the community some assurances that it will be a good addition,” Miles noted, adding that this would allow for more oversight compared to following the current entitlements.
Ultimately, the planning commission decided to recommend the development to the council, paving the way for two further readings before a final decision is reached regarding the Comanchee Trail project. The community remains on the lookout, eager to follow how this important discussion progresses in the heart of West Columbia.
