City Moves Ahead on Smaller Lots for New Subdivision on Harriet Circle
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson City Council gave tentative approval to smaller lot sizes for a proposed subdivision along the corner of Harriet Circle and McConnell Springs Road.
The planned development rules for the 60.83 acres would be altered to allow up to 150 single-family homes, a change from the original PDD language for the property which would also have allowed multi-family housing, assisted living and office-related uses.
The proposal would approve smaller minimum lot sizes of 7,500 square-feet, with a minimum lot width of 60 feet. Required setbacks include: Front Yard (20 feet), Side Yard (each side, 7.5 feet), Rear Yard (10 feet), a 50-foot minimum setback from Harriet Circle and a 20-foot setback from all other tract exterior property lines.
Sidewalks will also be required, along with garage space and driveway sizes large enough to reduce on-street parking. Two trees are required to be planted on each lot, one being a front yard shade tree to be planted near the front property line to provide a pleasant appearance. The City Tree Preservation Ordinance will apply to this development in hopes of ensuring a significant number of existing trees will be preserved on the property.
Officials also recommended the filling of all slopes to include the replanting of native evergreen trees to help stabilize soil and provide additional screening between the new development and adjacent properties.
Attorney Jay Wright, speaking on behalf of his home subdivision Clarendon, said he was generally ok with the plans, while also expressing a few concerns.
Wright suggested more evergreens be included in the plan to create a barrier to prevent light pollution from the new subdivision. He also said he worries the increase from the original 136 houses to a 150-house subdivision is also of concern,
“We just want to protect our neighborhood,” said Wright.
Both city council and a spokesperson for the developers said they would consider the additional evergreens in revised plans. Several council members also expressed concerns about traffic in the area, especially at the intersection of the two roads.
Councilman Jeff Roberts, Seat 3, suggested left and right hand exists onto Harriet Circle might help. Roberts also asked that the placement of evergreens be measured by the lot size instead of equal distribution throughout the subdivision.
The property is part of the 139-acre tract annexed by the city in 2003, and currently is home to Rockwell Plantation II, and the newer Martin Trails subdivisions.
City planning officials will consider the suggestions and changes before the final vote on the new language of restrictions.
Council also approved, on first reading, the rezoning of a piece of property on Bleckley Street in the city.
A request to rezone 3.15 tract between Woodburn Avenue, West Fredericks Street and Bleckley Street from Single Family to Neighborhood Commercial was requested by the owners of the property, Vets Helping Vets, who wish to locate a clubhouse on the property.
The group which holds Wednesday morning meetings for all veterans, a Monday night meeting for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a Sunday meeting for wives of veterans, has outgrown its current rental space at the Elks Lodge. Close to 100 members were in attendance at Monday’s city council meeting.
A spokesman for the group, Jesse Taylor, said veterans who are part of the organization are committed to serving the community, and said he had personally canvassed the neighborhood and found no opposition to the rezoning request.
Council approved the request on first reading, but asked the group and the city planners to work out a preliminary design with special attention to parking, before final approval.
Also on Monday night, council approved a bid of $118,270 to Phillips Recoveries of Pelzer, to demolish 14 blighted housing structures in the city. The properties are: 924 Railroad Street, 236 E Street, 926 Railroad Street, 402 E Street, 405 Thomas Street, 306 West River Street, 611 East Market Street, 602 West Mauldin Street, 1411 Newell Street, 202 F Street, 212 Daniels Street, 210 F Street, 1404 South McDuffie Street, and 907 East Market Street.
City Councilman Tony Stewart, Seat 4, said the list was a sign of progress, but to make a dent in the city’s blighted houses list, a greater commitment would be needed.
“We will never catch up by tearing down 14 houses a year,” said Stewart. ”I would like for this council to consider, as we go through the budget process, to add another $150,000 a year so we can tear down around 30 houses a year. We will never be able to attract new homes in our target neighborhoods until we get rid of the blighted houses in those neighborhoods.”
Over the past 20 years, the city has demolished an estimated 400 blighted houses, but Councilwoman Beatrice Thompson, Seat 5, said there “are a whole lot more that need to be taken down.”
Also on Monday night, council:
Approved the annexation of the two properties at 402 Simpson Road and 1920/22 Calhoun Road.
Approved new technology and audio/visual equipment for the city’s economic development building. The agreement calls for a 60-month lease with monthly payments of $2,579.46 for a total expenditure of $154,767.60, with a $1 payout to purchase the equipment after five years.
Approved a cooperative agreement between the City of Anderson Police and the Anderson University Police Department (which started last July). Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart said the two police departments are already working closely together, and the new agreement was to help plan cooperative efforts with new sports programs and other community events.
Proclaimed the City’s commitment to National Police Week, Mary 13-19.
