Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007

City will deny water for Columbia Venture project

Columbia will not help 3,000-acre, flood-prone site if annexed, developed

A year after scorning Columbia Venture’s advances, Columbia officials said Tuesday they would not provide water to its flood-prone property if it is annexed by Cayce and developed.

The news came as a surprise to Columbia Venture developers and could change plans for the 3,000-acre tract along the Congaree River that has raised questions about the potential risks and rewards of building on the property.

Cayce could take the first of two votes to annex the property formerly known as Green Diamond on Thursday. Cayce’s planning commission voted unanimously Monday to rezone the property.

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said City Council would not provide water to the company’s property because the city does not want to encourage development in a floodplain. Coble said it does not make sense in a “post-Katrina world.”

“If Cayce wants to do that, then they certainly need to provide the services for that,” Coble said.

Developer Bob Hughes has not said what his company plans to build on the property or who would provide water and other services.

However, Hughes was surprised Tuesday to learn the city would not be willing to provide water. He said the city already provides water to Heathwood School, which is behind city levees along the river.

“I don’t understand why (Coble) would do that to us and not to them,” Hughes said.

“I don’t know why he would turn down the revenue possibilities or why he would give up the spirit of regional cooperation that I think everyone is trying to foster down there.”

Columbia Venture last year attempted to woo Columbia officials to build artificial wetlands on the land to treat wastewater. The project stalled after officials learned it could cost at least $76 million.

It would be easier for Columbia to provide water to the area because it is closer and the water would flow downhill, so the city would not have to build pumps to increase water pressure, said John Dooley, Columbia’s utilities director.

If Cayce were to provide the water, developers would have to extend a hefty water main across the river, either by attaching it to an existing bridge or tunnel under the river, which is not unprecedented.

Both options would cost millions of dollars and require DHEC approval.

If the developer extends the lines, Cayce’s water system has plenty of capacity to meet the demand, Cayce city manager John Sharpe said. The city’s water plant can pump 9.4 million gallons of water a day. During the peak summer months, the plant pumps 5.5 million gallons of water a day, he said.

Two of the five Cayce City Council members said news that Columbia would not provide water to the development would not change their vote on annexing the property.

“We’ll try to work with the local governments who will work with us and those who don’t we’ll make other provisions,” said Councilman Bob Malpass, who represents The Avenues andfrom the Congaree River to 12th Street.

Rick Myers, the mayor pro tem who represents Moss Creek, Edenwood and parts of Riverland Park, said Cayce has not had any discussions with Columbia about providing water service.

“I don’t think it’s fair to assume anything on that property at this point,” he said. “We are months and months away of any consideration on anything.”

Several groups have mobilized against the annexation, including the Congaree River Task Force, lead by Robert Adams. Adams said no one from his group has lobbied Columbia not to provide water to the project.

“I’m not surprised by the city’s position on that. It makes perfect sense when you think about it,” Adams said. “If the city of Cayce is annexing the property, why would the city of Columbia provide water to it?”

Hughes said he is undaunted in his effort to develop the property. “It will just make us do things differently.”

Reach Beam at (803) 771-8405.

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