Greenville County: Regulators approve development permits

State regulators approved permits Thursday for a 5,000-acre mountain golf course development that has drawn opposition over its potential impact on the North Saluda River.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control issued water quality approval for the Cliffs at Mountain Park, a new resort community backed by professional golfer Gary Player. The DHEC approval says proposed dams, creeks and bridges won’t hurt water quality in the northern Greenville County river.

Some environmentalists and area residents have opposed the project, saying it could pollute the North Saluda. Mountain Park developers have said they are building the project with the environment in mind.