• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Developer Proposes Blythewood Subdivision: Some Residents Concerned Area Traffic Will

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Joy Woodson, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Jan. 19--A Columbia developer wants Blythewood Town Council to annex property where he proposed to build a large subdivision.

Dozens of Blythewood residents came to Wednesday night's meeting to learn about developer Clif Kinder's proposal for 250 acres adjacent to Town Hall. Kinder wants to build at least 775 single-family residences near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and Langford Road.

Some property owners said the subdivision would lead to increased traffic and turn a rural respite into a restless suburb.

Brenda Timme, 54, who owns property on Rimer Pond Road, said if Kinder builds his development, she will not move there.

Rimer Pond Road residents "are already held hostage in their driveways," she said. "They cannot get on the highway for 25 minutes. We have jobs we have to get to and we have to be on time."

If the property is annexed as has been discussed, the development would be one of the larger subdivisions in the Northeast Richland town.

"The demand is here," Kinder said. "The quality of life is good, your infrastructure. It's a good place to live, and people recognize that. That may be your curse.

"Probably, most of you up here tonight moved to Blythewood to get away from people like me. I understand that, but it's coming one way or the other."

Kinder already has asked Richland County Council to approve the development. The Richland County Planning Commission is expected to hear the proposal and make a recommendation Feb. 6.

Richland County Council could make a final decision by late February.

Town administrator John Hicks said it is unlikely the town would make a decision before March.

"Ya'll are what we were afraid of," Councilman Wade Dorsey said. "You're what we dreaded. You're what we ran against."

Traffic from the development would spill onto Langford and Rimer Pond roads.

Paul Moscati, a newly elected Town Council member said that when he sees people stuck on Rimer Pond Road, he already thinks "good God, because that's got to be frustrating sitting there in traffic waiting for cars to let you out."

Kinder said the Department of Transportation will probably insist on deceleration and acceleration lanes, additional road stripping and other traffic-calming measures.

County planning staff have already issued a report on the project, calling it "diametrically opposed" to Blythewood's efforts to retain a rural feel. The report said 584 homes was more realistic, but even that number would be out of character with the town.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The State (Columbia, S.C.)

More News in this Category