Former Midlands mining site could become 300 apartments. Here’s what we know
Some 300 apartments may be coming to the Midlands. But some neighbors are worried that the proposal may bring to many people, and too many cars, to an area without the infrastructure to handle it.
Irmo’s planning commission unanimously voted to recommend rezoning approximately 22 acres of land off of Columbiana Drive near Woodspring Suites on Monday. What was once an area zoned for manufacturing — the site of a clay mining operation until about 2023 — now has the potential to become residences.
Long Key Development proposed a multifamily community of about 300 apartments, with would feature a swimming pool, a clubhouse, a gym, coworking spaces and some 641 parking spaces.
The main entrance would be on Columbiana Drive, with a secondary access point on Battery Drive.
“I do support residential development in that area, rather than the light industrial, so I think that’s a positive,” one resident told the planning commission at Monday’s meeting. “However, looking at the comprehensive plan, the majority of the citizens, residents have said that they wanted lower density, not apartments.” Apartments would be market rate.
However, a portion of the units, as many as 50%, may participate in Richland County’s Commercial Development Program, which is an affordable housing program designed for those earning between 80% and 120% of the area’s median income. This is separate from affordable housing programs like Section 8 Housing or the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
It’s unclear how it might impact traffic in what is already a well-traversed area. But a traffic study by the town looked at the impact the apartments could have on Lake Murray Boulevard, College Street, Columbiana Drive and Broad River Road. The study determined that no major changes were needed, though traffic signal timing modifications were recommended.
Still, many in the neighborhood are concerned about bringing in so many people into a small area without the proper infrastructure to accommodate it. Several specifically named the Battery Road as a point of contention, a road several commission attendees said was in “bad shape” already.
“I don’t know why we would put another 600 cars, roughly, here if we’re not doing anything to fix the roads that are there,” another resident said.
While the planning commission ultimately voted to rezone the area, the site plan for the apartments is still in flux. Irmo town council is expected to further discuss the project at a regular meeting on June 16.
