Calhoun County Council: Sandy Run industrial rezoning rejected

Prior to council’s vote on Monday, Chair James Haigler said it is important for council to look toward the future in its decision-making process.

“We are not going to live forever and people are going to take our places,” he said.

Tombo Milliken of NAI Columbia sought the rezoning of a portion of the 138 acres at 494 Old Sandy Run Road to community, commercial and industrial. It’s located near Interstate 26’s Exit 125.

The property is currently zoned rural neighborhood, community commercial and industrial. According to Calhoun County property records, the market value of the property is $1,738,600.

The property is across the street from a Palmetto Express Travel Center.

The Calhoun County Planning Commission had previously voted in a 2-2 tie on the matter.

The commercial real estate firm’s efforts to have the property rezoned for future development raised concerns from some residents about the impact of increased truck traffic and the disruption of the county’s rural character.

“If you put this rezoning at the 125 exit in that area, we will have continuous accidents. We are going to have deaths. We are going to have trouble and problems,” resident Linnie Weaver said.

Ida Culler, a lifelong resident of the Sandy Run community, challenged council members to listen to their constituents.

“The people of Sandy Run accepted a zoning plan that was in the best interest of our area,” Culler said. “We do not need the Bellinger property rezoned to something other than the way it is now. Rezoning that property would be a detriment to all of Calhoun County.”

Culler noted the Sandy Run Industrial Park at Exit 119 has available space.

St. Matthews resident Boyd McLeod, who served for years on the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals, said he just found out about the rezoning request the day of the council meeting. He said he never saw a sign posted on the property about a zoning change.

“We do not need to move fast,” McLeod said. “We are a small, rural county. We do not need to grow over our growth, whether it is widening roads, water or sewer.”

“Everybody wants growth, but they want fair and constant growth that occurs for their community,” McLeod said. “Nobody wants it in my backyard. They wanted to know what is coming. They want it fair. I think they feel like it has been pushed a little bit.

“I want what is best for Calhoun County and I want what is best for Sandy Run.”

Sandy Run resident Dennis Spilde said it has been the plan for a long time to make Sandy Run the site of industrial development.

“What we don’t want is we don’t want willy nilly development in Sandy Run. We don’t want something that doesn’t fit, but what we do want, we want something that does fit in Calhoun County,” Spilde said. “Whether we like it or not, change is coming.”

Spilde asked council to “look at the future.”

“What is going to provide the wages for our kids? What is going to provide the houses for our kids?” Spilde said.

Milliken said the property’s rezoning request was in line with the Sandy Run Master Plan. Also, its proximity to the interstate, available utilities and compatibility with other uses in the area were also cited as reasons to allow the rezoning.

Milliken said the company did not have a use or user for the property, but would market the property if it was rezoned. He also promised neighboring residents that he would place at least 50-foot buffers around the development.

In other matters:

• Calhoun County Council Emergency Medical Services Director Crystal Youmans informed council that Shellback Tactical in Cayce provided the county’s Emergency Medical Services department with 10 active shooter kits for use on their ambulances.

The kits include hard body armor.

• County Deputy Administrator Richard Hall thanked all those who came out for the Fourth of July festivities and for all community partners who made the event possible.

• The public was reminded of the Community Block Party Saturday, July 20.

The event will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the Heyward Church Park (formerly Eastman Park) in the Sandy Run area. The park is located at 312 Savany Hunt Creek Road in Gaston.

The event is sponsored by the families and businesses of the Sandy Run community.

The party will include free food, music and games.

• Council unanimously appointed Earline Sistrunk to the Lower Savannah Council of Government’s Regional Aging Advisory Committee.