BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS CASE SUMMARY FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION NX 900 Greenlawn Drive January 9, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. City Council Chambers, 1737 Main Street, 3 rd Floor Columbia, South Carolina Case Number: 17-0117-SE Subject Property: NX 900 Greenlawn Drive (TMS# 16410-05-01) Zoning District: C-3 (General Commercial District) Applicant: James Cox, Peach Way Holdings, LLC Property Owner: A. Forbes Patterson Summary Prepared: December 19, 2017 Requested Action: Special Exception to establish a multifamily development Applicable Sections of Zoning Ordinance: 17-258 Multifamily developments (SIC 8811.2) are permitted in the C-3 zoning district by special exception 17-112 Standard criteria for special exceptions Case History: N/A Staff Comments: The applicant is requesting a special exception to establish a multifamily development in a commercial district. Subject property is currently undeveloped and consists of +/- 5.9 acres along Trinity Drive and Greenlawn Drive. The surrounding properties are zoned residential to the southeast and northeast, and general commercial to the south. Applicant intends to construct a senior village with a mix of units ranging from approximately 25 one bedroom units to 24 two bedroom units. A conceptual site plan is provided for informational purposes only. Applicant has also provided examples of other senior development projects they have completed in South Carolina. Should the Board be inclined to approve this request, staff asks that the following items be conditions of approval: Applicant shall substantially conform to the application, submitted materials, and testimony before the board and shall conform to all relevant city development regulations. PAGE 1 OF 2
Persons expressing support or concern about this application submitted the documents outlined below to staff. All documents are attached hereto and made a part of the record of the public hearing. PAGE 2 OF 2
Zoning Map Department of Planning & Development Services Special Exception 2017-0117-SE NX 900 Greenlawn Drive TMS# 16410-05-01 C-1 C-3 µ Legend RAILROADS CITY LIMITS FEMA FP C-1 KENMORE DR Waverly UTD D-1 RS-1 RS-1A RS-1B C-1 C-2 C-3 C-3A CAROLINE RD RS-1 RS-2 C-4 RS-3 RD RD-2 RG-1 RG-1A RG-2 RG-3 C-5 M-1 M-2 PUD-C PUD-LS PUD-LS-E PUD-LS-R RS-1 FAIRWOOD DR Subject Property UTD PUD-R MX-1 MX-2 ) OUT OF CITY DD DISTRICT DP DISTRICTS PD DISTRICT CC OVERLAY City Landmark 1 inch = 250 feet ORIGINAL PREPARATION/DATE: This map was prepared by: Hannah Slyce for January 9, 2018 BoZA Meeting C-3 ASBURY DR GREENLAWN DR RG-2 TRINITY DR C-3 DISCLAIMER: The City of Columbia Department of Planning and Development Services data represented on this map or plan is the product of compilation, as produced by others. It is provided for informational purposes only and the City of Columbia makes no representation as to its accuracy. Its use without field verification is at the sole risk of the user. C-3 GARNERS FERRY RD D-1 ** DATA SOURCE - CITY OF COLUMBIA, GIS DIVISION
Bailey, Rachel L From: Sent: To: Subject: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Steven Diaz <steven.diaz84@gmail.com> Friday, December 29, 2017 11:03 AM Zoning [EXTERNAL] Zoning Convern Follow up Flagged CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders or suspicious emails. Never enter a username or password on a site that you did not knowingly access. I want to express my concerns about the two separate proposed zoning changes to allow age-restricted multifamily housing on Greenlawn Dr. and Patterson Road in Southeast Columbia to be considered at the upcoming January meeting. Over the last few years, there have been two bodies, victims of homicides, found on the adjacent churchgrounds of Trinity Presbyterian and Christ the King Church right next to where these developments are proposed. Although the request is for age-restricted housing, family members no doubt will be living with tenants and certainly visiting there. I am afraid that the increase in such housing will increase the burden on city services and traffic that already are underserved. As these areas are on the perimeter of the city, law enforcement is scant if it exists at all. Police presence appears to be strictly reactive, rather than proactive. Obviously, southeast Columbia is a very low priority. Speeding and running red lights in these areas especially Leesburg Road and Garners Ferry are staggering. Also, Patterson Road and Greenlawn are two lanes roads without sidewalks. Litter and trash are unbelievable and hard to believe they are served by the city at all. But these are the least of our concerns. A casual glance at crime reports for this area, especially at or near apartment complexes and big box stores, will show that shoplifting, robberies, burglaries and assaults are alarming and on the increase. This area, once a quiet, low density single family area, is being overwhelmed by multi-family housing not accompanied by an increased required level of public service, i.e. police, sanitation, traffic enforcement, etc. There are homeless camps throughout the area, clustered near Southeast Park, Walmart, under overpasses and near stores. Panhandlers are a frequent presence. This is not to mention our sadness at seeing once valued lovely green buffer zones with abundant wildlife destroyed. It appears that the City of Columbia is making a concerted effort to cluster multi-family projects away from the city center to the perimeter, much to the disadvantage of this underserved and low priority area. Steven Diaz Corporal of Marines Operation Iraqi Freedom Purple Heart Recipient 1
Bailey, Rachel L From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Warren Hughes <wmh@sc.rr.com> Friday, December 29, 2017 10:40 AM Zoning Rickenmann, Daniel J; Duvall Jr., Howard E; 'Stephanie Benjamin' [EXTERNAL] Proposed zoning changes in Southeast Columbia concerns Follow up Flagged CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders or suspicious emails. Never enter a username or password on a site that you did not knowingly access. I want to express my concerns about the two separate proposed zoning changes to allow age restricted multi family housing on Greenlawn Dr. and Patterson Road in Southeast Columbia to be considered at the upcoming January meeting. Over the last few years, there have been two bodies, victims of homicides, found on the adjacent churchgrounds of Trinity Presbyterian and Christ the King Church right next to where these developments are proposed. Although the request is for age restricted housing, family members no doubt will be living with tenants and certainly visiting there. I am afraid that the increase in such housing will increase the burden on city services and traffic that already are underserved. As these areas are on the perimeter of the city, law enforcement is scant if it exists at all. Police presence appears to be strictly reactive, rather than proactive. Obviously, southeast Columbia is a very low priority. Speeding and running red lights in these areas especially Leesburg Road and Garners Ferry are staggering. Also, Patterson Road and Greenlawn are two lanes roads without sidewalks. Litter and trash are unbelievable and hard to believe they are served by the city at all. But these are the least of our concerns. A casual glance at crime reports for this area, especially at or near apartment complexes and big box stores, will show that shoplifting, robberies, burglaries and assaults are alarming and on the increase. This area, once a quiet, low density single family area, is being overwhelmed by multi family housing not accompanied by an increased required level of public service, i.e. police, sanitation, traffic enforcement, etc. There are homeless camps throughout the area, clustered near Southeast Park, Walmart, under overpasses and near stores. Panhandlers are a frequent presence. This is not to mention our sadness at seeing once valued lovely green buffer zones with abundant wildlife destroyed. It appears that the City of Columbia is making a concerted effort to cluster multi family projects away from the city center to the perimeter, much to the disadvantage of this underserved and low priority area. Warren McInnis Hughes Ph. 803 782 2266 1
December 29, 2017 I want to express my concerns about the two separate proposed zoning changes to allow agerestricted multi-family housing on Greenlawn Dr. and Patterson Road in Southeast Columbia to be considered at the upcoming January meeting. I wanted to address this issue in person, however, I have a sick mother and I cannot leave her. I have lived in the Lower Richland area since I was 16 years old. I ve seen a lot of changes and I have to admit the changes have not all been favorable. I feel like we are in quick-sand up to our chins and it s just getting worse. The population is exploding in our area of Lower Richland. Traffic is horrendous, more litter, more grocery carts being left along the side of the road and more criminal activity (stealing, shootings, killings). More and more apartments are being built, and they are all being built in the same area, around Walmart. What is the attraction to this area? Why can t it at least be spread out and give us some breathing room? Why must they all be crammed up against each other? Richland County is a huge county, surely there are other areas that can accommodate these new residents. I also wonder, who are the people who want to build all these apartments? Who will manage them? Who will manage the managers? Who will make sure residents of the apartments are law abiding people and that they won t be bringing in their boy/girlfriend and relatives to live there, too, thereby adding on to the problem? And why must it be apartments? Why not single homes? And why does it have to be in our community? We are about to explode!!! What are our neighborhoods going to look like in 10 years? I am 71 years old, many of my friends are the same age. We cannot just up and move away, we need someone to help us! We are at the mercy of the City of Columbia. Soon downtown Columbia will be all USC, and the borders into town are going to be the slums and we will be the slums! There has to be another solution to this problem somewhere. I respectfully ask you, Zoning Council, do not approve this zoning request. Sherry Katz 7924 Ronson Dr Columbia, SC 29209
Bailey, Rachel L From: Sent: To: Subject: bbost@sc.rr.com Thursday, January 04, 2018 8:37 AM Zoning [EXTERNAL] CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders or suspicious emails. Never enter a username or password on a site that you did not knowingly access. would like to express my concerns about the two proposed zoning changes to allow age restricted multi family housing on Greenlawn Dr. and Patterson Road in Southeast Columbia to be considered at the upcoming January meeting. Over the last few years, there have been two bodies, victims of homicides, found adjacent to Trinity Presbyterian and Christ the King Church right next to where these developments are proposed. Although the request is for age restricted housing, family members no doubt will be living with tenants and certainly be visiting there. I am afraid that the increase in such housing will increase the burden on city services and traffic that already are underserved. These areas are on the perimeter of the city, and law enforcement is inconsistent at best. Police presence appears to be strictly reactive, rather than proactive. It would appear that southeast Columbia is a very low priority. Traffic enforcement these areas, especially Leesburg Road and Garners Ferry is non existent. Also, Patterson Road and Greenlawn are two lanes roads without sidewalks. But these are the least of our concerns. A casual glance at crime reports for this area, especially at or near apartment complexes and big box stores, will show that shoplifting, robberies, burglaries and assaults are alarming and on the increase. This area, once a quiet, low density single family area,is being overwhelmed by multi family housing not accompanied by an increased required level of public service, i.e. police, sanitation, traffic enforcement, etc. There are homeless camps throughout the area, clustered near Southeast Park, Walmart, under overpasses and near stores. Panhandlers are a frequent presence. This is not to mention our sadness at seeing once valued lovely green buffer zones with abundant wildlife destroyed. It appears that the City of Columbia is making a concerted effort to cluster multi family projects away from the city center to the perimeter, much to the disadvantage of this underserved and low priority area. Thank 1
Bailey, Rachel L From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Maddens <blueandque@yahoo.com> Wednesday, January 03, 2018 7:02 PM Zoning Rickenmann, Daniel J [EXTERNAL] re: zoning changes for multi-family housing in Southeast Columbia CAUTION: This email originated outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders or suspicious emails. Never enter a username or password on a site that you did not knowingly access. To whom it may concern: We would like to express our extreme concern about two separate proposed zoning changes to allow age-restricted multi-family housing on Greenlawn Dr. and Patterson Road in Southeast Columbia (on the agenda to be considered at council's January meeting). We moved to this area six months ago, drawn by the family friendly neighborhoods, good schools (Brennen, Flora, etc.), the revitalized shopping and dining (ie Rosewood Crossing, Whole Foods, Target, etc.), and the easy access to I-77. While we have enjoyed living in the Southeast, as former downtown residents, we are shocked by how little attention this area of the City receives--despite an energized community of residents and numerous efforts to revitalize it and make it a desirable location for residents to work and live. With the proposed multi-family housing zoning changes, as City residents and taxpayers, we have the following questions: 1) Has there been any plan or study to address the infrastructure needs of these added developments to the area? Does the city even have a long term development plan for the Southeast? How do these multifamily communities play a part in that plan? What is the market type of these new developments and is this what the area needs to contribute to it s growth and revitalization? 2) Can the existing infrastructure (water delivery, sewers, utilities, public transportation, etc.) handle the expected increase in demand - and if not, what does the City intend to do to improve it? 3) Will there be additional costs to existing residents? How is the City going to improve the roads and traffic flow, as traffic is terrible in the area already? Has an in-depth traffic study been performed and have residents had an opportunity to review it and comment on it? 4) What about the effects these unnecessary developments will have on abundant wildlife that will inevitably be destroyed or displaced, when we should be working to preserve and protect them? The obvious concerns of infrastructure aside, the other BIG question remains: how does the city plan to address the existing and increasing crime in the area? Panhandlers and homeless camps are everywhere: permanently living under the I-77 overpass, hounding us at shopping centers, gas stations and a daily presence at highway exits asking for beer or money. They leave litter, trash and shopping carts on public roads and highways. As if their constant daily presence isn t bad and embarrassing enough (and in violation of numerous City ordinances), crime statistics for the southeast are alarming with reports of shoplifting, burglaries, assaults and even homicides. If the City has been unable to get this situation under control now, what means will they employ as the population in Lower Richland continues to grow? Overwhelming this area with multi-family housing, which is not accompanied by an increased and required level of public service or with a thoughtful study and long term development plan will have far reaching consequences for the area. We urge you to consider all the factors that have made this part of the City a desirable location for businesses, large retailers and residents to relocate to. The City needs to continue in this vein and focus on real investments and revitalization in the Southeast. Please do not approve these zoning requests for more multifamily housing developments in this area. 1
Thank you, Gabe & Seema Madden 2