COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 280-unit apartment complex is on its way to Columbia after approval from the city's planning commission.
Robert Morgan from Homes Urban Development on Thursday presented renderings to the City of Columbia Planning Commission for a new apartment complex in the city. His company requested approval for a major site plan on a 20-acre plot of land near Fort Jackson.
According to the proposal, developers hope to build 141 one-bedroom, 117 two-bedroom, and 22 three-bedroom units on the property. Morgan says environmental conservation was also part of their design.
"We will work around almost all the wetlands -- we do have one wetland crossing that we will work with the core on that," he said. "But, by and large, the wetlands will stay as is, as will the existing vegetation."
The site is located between Fort Jackson Boulevard and Interstate 77 in Columbia, just off Garners Ferry Road. Columbia residents, including Josiah Blevins, who lives in the Brandon Acres neighborhood directly next to the site, gave the plans mixed reviews.
"It's a couple hundred feet away from the house, suddenly there being 300 people behind the house, you know, it just feels like it's going to be tight quarters. I mentioned the woodland area, there's a lot of deer, in that neighborhood that we really like," he says.
Sarah Nevarez, who also lives near the site, says proximity to nature is why many people live in the neighborhood and is worried that a new complex may put that at risk.
"That is why many of us bought our homes and like this neighborhood. So a lot of the questions that you will see are trying to maintain that attitude and that feel," she said during a public comment session.
Morgan says they're working to keep native plants and trees on location as a buffer to neighbors.
"The current plan is that we have a 30-foot buffer between us and the neighborhood and we plan to keep that undisturbed because the grade change with our development is pretty minimal there," he says.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the design. Blevin says now he's hoping for a smooth transition.
"I hope that the changes that are coming go smoothly and that the behind us in the new neighborhood will respect and appreciate Brandon Acres, as much as all of us who live there do," he says.
Developers declined an interview but said this was their last hurdle before they could start construction.