CAMDEN, S.C. — The council chambers erupted in cheers from relieved residents Tuesday night, after the City of Camden's Planning Commission voted 'no' to a large-scale development.
The Paddocks of Camden, a proposed 352 home development on Chestnut Street, better known as the Camden Equine Training Center, was voted down.
Residents packed city council chambers Tuesday to voice their concerns about the development so that the Camden Planning Commission could hear it straight from the horse's mouth.
The development promised tiers of homes like starter homes and others with multiple stories and larger space, costing roughly $340,000 and up. Promised amenities included, a walking trail, a pickleball court, and continued use of the remaining horse tracks.
Stephen Sarafin made signs for the meeting reading "Horses not Houses" and "Don't Destroy Our Neighborhood". Sarafin has been a resident of Camden for more than 20 years and works in the Equestrian industry. He said just the idea of the development completely turned off residents like himself.
“It's too big and it's in the wrong place," Sarafin explained. "It's going to impact neighborhoods and residents that have been there for 70 and 80 years. They're nice neighborhoods, streets are quiet, no sidewalks and everything else, and all the traffic made by this development would come through the neighborhoods."
The decision that Camden’s planning commission made Tuesday is not the only vote on the development. The matter will go before Camden City Council next Tuesday, March 26.