Planning Commission Rejects 2 New Projects in School Dist. 1

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson County Planning Commission rejected a pair of housing developments on Tuesday after Anderson School Dist. 1 expressed concerns that continued unbridled growth in the area.

The commission denied the 13.62-acre single-family Acorn Glen housing subdivision on Roger Road, was asking to divide the property into 30 lots, and a request to build more than 50 townhouses known as Harvest Creek Cottages on 19.86 acres on Anderson Road.

“We appreciate the fact that the county planning commission is open to hearing our concerns,” said Dr. Jeff Wilson, assistant superintendent for School Dist. 1. “Hopefully they will continue to work with us as we witnessed unprecedented growth in our district.”

Wilson said the district is concerned about infrastructure, including roads and utilities in thre are where the developments were proposed. Acorn Glen would have impacted Spearman Elementary School, and the Harvest Creek Cottages had an even broader effect in Powdersville.

“We are at capacity now and don’t have facilities to keep up with the growth,” said Wilson. “We have added classrooms and portables and even they are full.”

“Hopefully we can work with the county and planning commission to develop a plan for the future.”