Jim Fair
Janice Pickett makes a point to planning commisioners that Snow Road's widening was a paramount concern with her.
Jim Fair
John Beeson, right, represented developers of a housing project on Snow Road.
Jim Fair
Commissioners Brian Martin, left, and Chris Harrison saw familiar faces return for another round of discussions on a Snow Road housing project.
The Cannon Centre was a more appropriate setting for the Planning Commission’s review of two subdivisions – Belshire, with 102 new homes at Brushy Creek and Alexander Road, and a 194 single family home development at Snow Road and Burns Road off Hwy. 101. Both were approved but in different scenarios.
John Beeson, who has five developments in the construction or planning phases, was cast in the spotlight with the two under review Monday.
The city’s presentation of Belshire subdivision’s 34.44 acres passed smoothly with commissioners all pleased with Beeson’s commitment to the city’s ordinances including Glenn Pace, Planning and Zoning Coordinator, who requested landscaping berms and sidewalks be removed from private lots and placed in common areas to make maintenance easier.
“We’re in the stages of storm water and engineering plans being completed by the end of February and construction beginning within 30-45 days,” Beeson told commissioners.
Commissioners unanimously approved, 5-0, Belshire only asking Pace to confirm the retention pond be fenced and the adoption of the above landscaping requests. Commissioners Don Foster, Judy Jones, Brian Martin, Chris Harrison and chairman Morris Burton cast votes. Commissioners Clay Jones and Suzanne Traenkle were absent.
All heck broke loose after Pace presented the Snow Road development on 59.22 acres, to commissioners for review and Beeson affirmed Pace’s facts.
Beeson even threw in a concession of a second entrance off Snow Road into the community. “We listened to what everybody had said and decided to put in another,” he said.
Commissioners listened as residents reiterated concerns for widening the Spartanburg County road, sewer improvements, fire and police protection and wild animal control. A threat of suit(s) if injury or death occurred on the same roads after the subdivision’s development was directed to the commissioners.
Janice Pickett asked, “How would you feel if your son or daughter was on a school bus that was hit on that road?”
Phil Pickett, a retired school teacher, delivered an impassioned plea for a host of improvements. Pickett’s talking points were:
• Personally measuring Snow Road’s width at 16-feet, plus or minus one foot. “My truck is seven feet wide. If you have two trucks side-by-side that doesn’t leave much room,” he said.
• Drainage ditches and culverts needing repair or replacement.
• Asked for a three-way stop or traffic signal at Abner Creek/Snow Road/Hwy. 101.
• Public safety services, utilities, and taxes responsibility and distribution were other points.
The public hearing adjourned for 10 minutes before commissioners stated their concerns.
Martin and Foster teamed up on a mathematical debate challenging an ordinance that requires a minimum of 50 percent of a development’s total acreage to be designated for open space. They said their figures suggested Beeson and his engineers did not meet that definition.
Martin led the commission’s 4-3 denial last month for R-12 zoning to a less dense R-15. City Council quickly dismissed the commission’s recommendation with a no-discussion 7-0 vote when Beeson told council it was his way or no way. The difference would have resulted in 10 fewer lots and houses.
Martin also disagreed that Beeson’s development was not true to the ordinance for land dedicated as open space that “shall be of meaningful proportions and dimensions so as to be consistent with the purpose and intent.”
Pace brought the focus back to the basic issue of Beeson meeting the standards set by city ordinance to set up the vote. “They have met the intent of the requirements as far as city staff is concerned for approval.”
As the discussion appeared headed for the commissioners votes all protocol was lost when first Beeson, and then the residents began asking for and without permission offered comments from the gallery.
As each vote was taken the opposing sides could be heard commenting on the tally.
Harrison said he reluctantly agreed Beeson met the city’s standards while sympathetic to the residents’ concerns. Foster and Judy Jones agreed and the three votes carried against the nos of Martin and Burton.
“It’s tough for us to make a decision when the concerns are out of our jurisdiction,” Harrison said.
Martin denied he was miffed at city council overturning the Planning Commission's controversial recommendation. “My issue was the open space,” said Martin. “I don’t think it meets the very nature of cluster zoning.”