Will compromise let Gray Collegiate open athletic access in neighborhood?
After county planners previously gave a thumbs down to plans to give drivers access to school athletic fields through a nearby neighborhood, Lexington County Council members think they may have landed on a compromise.
Council members Tuesday discussed changing zoning restrictions that would allow Gray Collegiate Academy to open an access gate at the end of Allendale Drive, a residential street that dead ends near the West Columbia charter school’s football, baseball and softball fields, at least in certain circumstances.
Instead of creating a new general access point for athletics, council members said they would like to see any new access point used only for emergency access for first responders as needed during athletic events at the school.
In November, the Lexington County Planning Commission rejected the school’s request for a zoning change in an 8-0 vote, partly because commissioners said there was no way under current rules the county could force Gray to limit traffic to emergency vehicles.
Before the county council could adopt its preferred solution, the council would have to amend its ordinance to allow for more restricted access following three readings before the council and a public hearing, County Administrator Lynn Sturkie told council members Tuesday.
Since the Planning Commission rejected Gray’s request, council members have met with school officials and neighboring property owners to try to find alternatives. They have heard from residents who fear their streets will become a traffic jam after every Gray athletic event if the planned access point goes forward.
“I’ve gotten a lot of emails and phone calls about this,” Council Chairman Darrell Hudson said at Tuesday’s discussion. But he reiterated that there is a safety concern about emergency access that takes precedent.
“We do have a need and a responsibility to the school kids to have emergency vehicles available” in case of injuries or medical emergencies during athletic events, Hudson said.
Gray Principal Brian Newsome previously told the council that a player broke his leg during a JV football game last year, and it took 20 minutes and moving several cars before the ambulance could reach the stadium. The athletic complex is located at the rear of the elongated school campus with one narrow entrance on Leaphart Road.
Council Vice Chairman Todd Cockrell said any gate on Allendale should remain locked most of the time, even during games.
“If it’s not an emergency issue, if it’s just a convenience thing, then dumping all those cars on the neighborhood for the convenience of the parents is inconsiderate,” Cockrell said.
Councilwoman Charli Wessinger suggested requiring a mechanism on the gate that could only be deactivated by emergency responders when they need access to Gray’s athletic fields.
County council members asked staff to come up with more restrictive language to add to the zoning ordinance to address the Gray situation, which the council can consider at a meeting in March.
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 1:01 PM.
.jpg)