Jim Fair
Roger Metz asked the Planning Commission to deny O'Neal Village's plans to begin development on Phase II.
Jim Fair
Jeff Randolph, a developer with O'Neal Village, received approval for Phase II but was denied a variance eliminating sidewalks along O'Neal Church Road.
Jim Fair
On the home page: A group of citizens objected to O'Neal Village beginning Phase II with 90 more homes. Their argument was mostly about increased traffic and quality of roads. However, the Planning Commission is not charged to made decisions on road conditions.
The City Planning Commission approved the final development plan and an amendment accommodating developers a variance allowing joint driveways between 13 lots facing O’Neal Church Road. A turnaround within the development allows for vehicles to access entrance/exit points without exiting on O’Neal Church Road.
Commissioner Kevin Tumblin recused himself for a conflict of interest, he is an engineer at O’Neal Village, and Morris Burton, commission chairman, resigned last week effective immediately. Don Foster was voted new commission chairman during the meeting. A replacement for Burton must be approved by City Council.
Phase II lot sizes at O’Neal Village will range form 5,800-square feet (Manor) to 15,000-square feet (Estate-External) for an average density of 3.86 units per acre.
Jeff Reynolds of the Randolph Group said sales activity has increased in O’Neal Village. “We’re selling the lots to builders and they are selling about three houses a month,” Reynolds said. “We’re seeing an increased demand for lots.”
Reynolds said, “We’re not getting rid of open space or increasing density (2.3 lots per acre).” The total number of lots planned was 570 when the property was rezoned.
Developers were denied, 5-0, a variance seeking to forego sidewalks along O’Neal Church Road. “We plan to allow access from Oneal (sic) Church Road to our internal road system,” Tumblin wrote to Glenn Pace, City Planning and Zoning Coordinator. “That system will have sidewalks on both sides of the road instead of just one side and it will allow foot traffic to more safely navigate from ONeal (sic) Church Road to Hwy. 101.”
That merited little discussion. “The developers have met all our concerns, Pace said. “Our only concern (city staff) now is with the variance request for the sidewalks.”
Greer City Council sent a strong message to planning commissioners in the past to enforce the city’s ordinance requiring installation of sidewalks on all road frontage of new developments.
About a dozen residents appeared asking commissioners to deny Phase II mostly because of the additional traffic and hazards it would place on Highway 101 and O’Neal Church Road. There was concern where storm water would drain and how the wetlands would be used or incorporated into the development.
Only the city council can rule on new road ordinances if the roadways are in the city’s domain.
One resident was admonished, by Pace, when he booed the commissioners’ ruling while exiting the proceedings still in session.