Proposed 550-unit development along the shore of Lake Murray hits snag. Here’s why
A development that would bring as many as 550 residential units to the shores of Lake Murray will have to adjust its plans after Irmo officials balked at the project, saying developers were trying to put too much on too little land.
The Planning Commission for the town of about 12,000 voted Monday night to deny proposed rezoning for the project. The decision aligned with recommendations from town staff, who said developers hadn’t done enough to justify the density of the residential sections of the development.
As they have since the Water Walk development was brought up earlier this summer, members of the public showed up to share their displeasure with the project. The packed crowd voiced concerns ranging from traffic congestion to the environment to the buffers between the new construction and surrounding neighborhoods.
Set for 65 acres centered at 2947 Dreher Shoals Road/S.C. 6, plans for the residential development call for at least 280 single-family homes and townhomes (135 on 21.5 acres and 145 on 14 acres) along with at least 220 senior-living units on 15.1 acres. The project also calls for commercial space on 13.2 acres, set to include dining and retail options along with a small boutique hotel with a maximum of 75 rooms.
The plans note that the number of units in each of the three residential zones could go up or down by 10%.
The project comes from Charleston-based developer Material Capital Partners.
Assistant Town Administrator Doug Polen said that while staff had some concerns over the lack of guarantees that construction on the commercial component of the development wouldn’t lag behind the residential units, the recommendation to deny hinged on the developers not justifying proposed reductions in the minimum lot size mandated by the town.
.jpg "8-12-24 PC Packet (1).jpg")
Irmo has a system for such developments through which a project can shave the standard 12,500-square-foot lot requirement by making certain concessions. Including amenities like pools, installing decorative crosswalks, and making a $1,000 contribution per unit to the town to help pay for expanding services were among the 11 “bonus” opportunities of which Water Walk intended to take advantage.
But Polen said the latest development can’t double up bonuses for making its garages less prominent and including rear access alleys to many of the homes, and it didn’t include a sufficient variety of floor plans to earn the proposed bonus there. As such, the 3,500-square-foot lot minimum proposed would need to come up to at least 5,000 square feet.
“Density is actually smart planning,” Polen said. “It’s probably just not what the town actually wants.”
Both the developers and staff noted that without any change to zoning, up to 700 apartment units could be put on the site, which they both said isn’t likely what residents want to see. Members of the public responded by saying that they felt trapped in a choice between two bad options.
The developers responded to concerns from the public that all of the units would be rentals by explaining that 135 of the homes would be for sale.
David Craig, director of development at Material Capital Partners, repeatedly said the development would be high-quality, comparing it to the Saluda River Club neighborhood along Corley Mill Road.
“I think what is not being understood is that not all of these lots are 3,500 square feet,” Craig said, adding that the majority of the homes would sit on larger lots, with plans calling for only 36 homes to feature the proposed minimum, with the vast majority of those sitting on more than 4,000 square feet.
“We’re offering parks,” Craig said. “We’re offering sidewalks, trails, lighting. We’re offering an open space and green lawn down to this lakefront. We’re offering additional retail, so we can change up the restaurants and shops that we’re attending, and we’re doing it in a walkable setting.”
This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 11:10 AM.
.jpg)