COLUMBIA – Three rezoning requests for parcels located in 29016 that were set to be heard by Richland Council on Tuesday, March 25, were deferred by Gretchen Barron, one of Blythewood’s county representatives, until later dates and another one was withdrawn.
14.03-Acre Commercial Rezoning Requested
A request by applicant Brad Shell to rezone 14.03 acres at the intersection of 10205 Wilson Blvd. and Turkey Farm Road from HM/RT (Homestead/Residential Transition) to GC (General Commercial) will be held at a Richland County Council public hearing on Tuesday evening, April 22.
The county’s planning staff had previously voted 5-2 to recommended approval of the rezoning of the 14.03 acres (case 24-061MA). The staff report states that the rezoning complies with the 2015 Comprehensive Plan which allows commercial and retail development on the site.
19.83 Acres for 300 Apartments
Across Turkey Farm Road from the recommended commercial rezoning at 10205 Wilson Boulevard is a request for 19.83 acres at 10141 Wilson Boulevard (case 24-052) and Turkey Farm Road to be rezoned from HM (Homestead) to GC (General Commercial) for a combination of commercial and approximately 300 apartments.
That request was deferred to the May 20 County Council public hearing.
The staff report recommended disapproval of this map amendment as it is not compliant with the 2015 Comprehensive Plan recommendations. While the proposed rezoning would allow for retail and commercial uses along a primary road, the site is not located with a Neighborhood Activity Center and is not within a contextually-appropriate distance from an intersection as prescribed by the Comprehensive Plan.
Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend that the county council disapprove of the GC rezoning request.
210.35 Acres for 600 Homes
The 2015 Richland County Comprehensive Plan for two large-acre parcels at 800 and 812 Mount Valley Road (Cases 25-002MA and 25-003MA) designates this area as Neighborhood (low density). A developer has requested that the parcels (198.84 acres and 111.41 acres) be rezoned from AG (Agriculture) to R3 (Residential District 3). Richland County’s planning staff concluded that these properties should not be rezoned from AG to R3 because R3 zoning is not compliant with the objectives for Neighborhood (low density).
Representative for the developer, consultant Brandon Pridemore, appearing before the Richland County planning commission on Feb. 3, conceded that the requested R3 zoning does not comply with the comprehensive plan, but he said he’s looking at the big picture of what’s happening in that area with Scout’s arrival.
While Pridemore has suggested that only 600 homes will be built, R3 zoning allows the developer to build up to 6 homes to the acre and 1,800 homes for the entire development.
The Planning Commission voted 6-1 against recommending to council the proposed rezoning of both Mount Valley parcels.
The rezoning request for these two properties was deferred to April 22.
