WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — West Columbia city council and planning commission leaders tentatively plan to hear from developers on Monday about their plans to create a new nine-acre, 90-unit townhome complex.
A 60-page preliminary site plan for the "Comanchee Trail Townes" was supposed to be presented to West Columbia leaders on Tuesday, Aug. 6. However, Tropical Storm Debby changed the meeting date.
People are already sharing their thoughts about the possible development.
"I would like for it not to be developed because it would put that much more traffic on the street," West Columbia resident Sandra Etheredge said.
Sandra Etheredge lives on Riverview Drive. Her house is right in front of where this development could go.
Dalton Lambert bikes along Comanchee Trail and also lives nearby.
"I think, yeah, it's not that great of a plan just because there's not a lot of things around here for people to walk to, go to," Lambert said. "It's going to create just a bunch of people, but not a bunch of other things that could maybe bring in tax dollars or something to help out the local community."
West Columbia City Councilman David Moye said the most significant concern he and his constituents have is nearby traffic.
"We like to find agreement with developers. We're in a housing shortage. There's just some real safety concerns as far as the access and the intersection geometry," Moye said. "We've had pedestrians in the neighborhood in the last five years get killed there."
Moye is also concerned about density related to West Columbia zoning.
"It's about five units an acre. They're proposing about twice that," Moye said.
Councilwoman Sarah Mattern, who governs this district, said in a statement, "I think it's important to let the review process play out. I will hold any comments and look forward to hearing from West Columbia residents during the upcoming public hearing."
According to the council, this meeting set for Monday does have the potential to be rescheduled again.