West Columbia Residents Raise Alarm Over Proposed Housing Development Amid Safety and Traffic Concerns

West Columbia Residents Voice Concerns Over New Housing Development

West Columbia, S.C. – Residents have been vocal about their concerns regarding a new housing development proposal in their neighborhood, and on Monday night, the West Columbia planning commission held a packed meeting to address these issues. With a noticeable turnout, local residents came together to express their thoughts on a potential development off Comanchee Trail that plans to construct 55 single-family homes.

What’s Being Proposed?

The developers, along with engineers representing the project, proposed building homes priced between $225,000 to $300,000. Each lot would come with three to four parking spaces, adding convenience for future homeowners. This proposal marks a shift from earlier plans for a 90-unit townhome complex, now brought back to the planning commission as a more limited single-family home project. Accompanying this change is a request to rezone the property to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which would also allow for some commercial use, fulfilling the land seller’s requirements.

Community Concerns

As the discussion unfolded, it became clear that many residents had mixed feelings about the proposed changes. One resident captured the tone of the crowd by simply stating, “One word, safety.” Others questioned whether the site could instead be preserved as a park, showing a preference for maintaining green spaces over new development.

Dozens of West Columbia neighbors stepped up to the podium to voice their worries, raising key issues such as traffic congestion, the flow of storm water, and the importance of green spaces within the community. One resident pointed out a notable lack of clarity from the developers, sharing frustrations about how a density study or marketing assessment hadn’t been presented. “When they just ask ‘em why are you trying to bring this in, they had no rationale for it,” resident Diane Conner stated.

Seeking a Compromise

Despite the overall hesitance among residents, some acknowledged the need for reasonable development. “I don’t think anyone here is opposed to development. It’s reasonable development,” noted a concerned citizen. The planning commission chair, Gary Prince, urged attendees to consider the alternative: whether it might be better to have a slightly controlled development through the PUD compared to simply allowing construction under existing entitlements.

Mayor Tem Miles endorsed the PUD proposal as it would give the city more authority over the development details. He highlighted that a controlled approach could lead to enhancements and assurances that the new homes would be a beneficial addition to West Columbia. “I very much like the idea of doing it as a PUD if we’re going to do it because it allows us to manage upgrades to what the development is going to be,” said Miles.

The Next Steps

Ultimately, the West Columbia planning commission made the decision to recommend the development to the city council. However, this does not mean a final decision has been made yet. The proposal will face two required readings by the city council before any construction plans can proceed.

As the meeting wrapped up, residents left reflecting on the varying opinions expressed throughout the night. Many hoped that their voices were heard and that there would be positive outcomes in the near future. After the gathering, the atmosphere in West Columbia is one of cautious optimism, with everyone keeping a close eye on how these developments may shape their community.