COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dozens of Lower Richland residents came out to the Richland County recreation center at Bluff Road Park Monday evening, for a town hall meeting hosted by Richland County Councilwoman Cheryl English.
Those in attendance learned about several zoning requests that would impact projects in Richland District 10.
Those requests included a plan to rezone 10 acres along Bluff Road from an R4 designation, which allows single family residences to R5 which would allow multi-family dwellings such as apartments and condos.
Resident Bonnie Joshi is requesting to split her property into thirds to help more families afford a home.
"You know younger people, this economy doesn’t afford them to be able to buy property and have a place to build a house or have a mobile home, a double wide or whatever., and raise their children in a nice, rural, quiet area,” Joshi said.
Reactions were mixed though, as many of those in attendance took issue with the larger projects seeking rezoning. Some residents said they were vehemently opposed to rezoning, while others were in opposition to more home on Bluff Road. Another questioned plans for a greenspace and whether or not there would be enough police protection to prevent a "bloodbath down here with guns and what have you."
In addition to the discussions surrounding rezoning requests, county officials also presented a slide show promoting the upcoming transportation penny tax.
Again, reactions were mixed, with some in the crowd questioning where the money would go, while others voiced their support, saying the tax would allow visitors to contribute to infrastructure projects, instead of the burden falling solely to Richland County taxpayers.
The Richland County Council will vote on two of the zoning requests Tuesday night during their zoning public hearing.
That meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at the council's chambers along Hampton Street in downtown Columbia.
Meanwhile, voters will see two questions related to the transportation penny tax will be on their ballots this November.