Subdivision Change Hearing Set for Sept. 15

More than 200 people showed up for an information session on the Old Lake Road project in June. None spoke in favor of the planned development. (file)

County commissioners will receive comments on changes to the county’s major subdivision ordinance at their Sept. 15 meeting.

Commissioners instructed County Manager Eddie Madden to immediately begin work on changing the rules at the Aug. 18 meeting. After hearing from numerous landowners and residents concerned about lot sizes, density, stormwater and other issues with two proposed developments, the board sent the two proposals back to the planning board for further investigation. They then voted for county staff to work on tightening the rules regarding lot sizes and other regulations, citing concerns that Columbus could face the same overdevelopment problems faced by Horry and Brunswick counties.

One of the proposed projects, the 1,000 home Sarvis tract near Tabor City, would have up to four homes per acre on the property. The Coleman tract called for 190 homes in Dothan. Both will be discussed at future meetings of the county planning board.

County Manager Eddie Madden cautioned that any changes to the ordinance would not affect developers and projects that were submitted before the changes are approved.

The surprise move by the board may have dampened enthusiasm for some developers in the county. The developers for Paloma II, which would have brought 10,000 homes to Nakina, withdrew their plans for consideration shortly after it was submitted, just days after the meeting. The developers behind a controversial 4,500 home project on Old Lake Road also asked that their application be put on hold while they conduct further research.

About Jefferson Weaver 3211 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at jeffersonweaver@ColumbusCountyNews.com.

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