[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6467448,"mediaKeyId","5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa","parentId",5793080,"title","Neighbors raise stormwater, traffic and privacy concerns over Water Walk plans","audioSeconds",221,"startMs",4523000,"endMs",4744000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa&start=4523&end=4744","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa/thumbnail_4523000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467448/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Neighbors-raise-stormwater-traffic-and-privacy-concerns-over-Water-Walk-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467448-47c07129784d239402abea74472acd6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569562&Signature=hYWnw5q3nJdTiytLQLcwfLK~mkFRMghRAYJZHRRliWo0UDxh5tjLxTeQ7EfBQVIhskriS~Z5PYXymh0EMkOGwe2nfYQ8dYmHVlSwp-su9LA8wj5CpBgRWcL2rL2qEwI9UO6vxBTxBVI1lwARTKOyT0A8pJcbij~pzUuDnQPy0hnE8UC1K5ws4mnE0RVuWPiNgxiH5R9bHeUUGuIvwfM7o5QfVOkOZf8bHltspzmQNCqTOkuQx4Iy-ozVN11J93i7JxrS9YpgTa4pS9J7ZOuP5mA7EGp8~ScGUuxnX5t79OvNBYjb8lMn6DH8upnXnEHoP-AaAmzsNZzbIc7vyW-DOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Irmo, South Carolina","date","2025-09-17T11:28:55Z","article","Several residents addressed council to express concerns about a planned Water Walk development, focusing on stormwater runoff, unit types and road access.

Dawn Halterwanger (presented under similar spellings in the transcript) said the lot next to her property on Muscatat Run has a \"severe slope,\" that runoff already floods her yard and that she does not trust developers to control future stormwater. She said the adjacent lot is proposed for duplexes and a fire station and asked council to require a 50-foot buffer and a 6- to 8-foot-high fence to protect her privacy and limit noise. Halterwanger said her house sits downhill from the lot and that she paid more than $30,000 for an engineered septic system; she asked that the town avoid placing an entrance directly opposite new driveways to prevent traffic and to protect her drain field.

\"I have stormwater runoff damage from this property,\" Halterwanger said. \"I absolutely do not trust these developers to establish an adequate way to control the wastewater runoff.\" She invited councilors and staff to inspect the slope and the adjoining parcel.

Staff and councilors acknowledged the concerns and noted the development review process includes stormwater and site-plan reviews. A council member asked who is responsible for clearing fallen trees on vacant lots after an incident where a neighbor had cut a fallen tree that had blocked the road; Halterwanger asked the question to clarify ongoing lot maintenance responsibilities.

The council did not take formal action on the Water Walk concerns at this meeting; Halterwanger said she remains in contact with planning staff for updates and asked for continued attention to buffers, driveway placement and protection of existing septic drain fields.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Irmo Town Council (LIVE) - September 16, 2025 - 6 PM Start Time","oneSentenceSummary","Residents near the Water Walk development told council they fear increased stormwater runoff, loss of privacy and more rental duplexes. One resident asked for a 50-foot buffer and a 6–8 foot fence adjacent to her property and raised concerns about septic drain-field impacts and driveway placement.","taxTitle","Town of Irmo, Richland County, South Carolina","taxId",58114,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467453,"Crossroads Intermediate plans to become Crossroads Middle School with magnet program and new mascot",227,1838000,2065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa&start=1838&end=2065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa/thumbnail_1838000.jpg","/articles/6467453/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Crossroads-Intermediate-plans-to-become-Crossroads-Middle-School-with-magnet-program-and-new-mascot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467453-8122fbd89ebc7fb21d1ec82d01462951/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569562&Signature=hM4oWjv8MuKFjoEsfUCL07pivaRh6yrWbpvlBWemLkclOLEqZhsBtGOYIcsk~lCQk9l5-TNE4uCzcfZl5mSlwlZzRJ0mkMh7aNYjnCKs4scYLAF7q9N4ntDja6ETDPRsIpQv0KWBi1w7a2Tdr5dt7gvZJyCk86L1NkssA~hLz1JkqOpQRBoFxU2yONv3dvRkGe5A8407WqQ3oAxua0avXAri-GViMSn6k10oC5G0wvS~Zp8MDn6n5TqIwMeegShDY6FDMWr7r-wEzEXM6h0MRzvhE8tpQA7qVQnLUPw6xhTQ8-DpOo4dCPiOVs-N2JP4GNkmMxWiFJO~tHHW9SuUww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Erin Doty, principal of Crossroads Intermediate School, presented the school's plan to transition from a sixth-grade campus to Crossroads Middle School beginning in the 2026–27 school year. The change will add seventh and eighth grades, reduce the number of feeder elementary schools, and keep a focus on student connections and a daily RISE period (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence).

Doty said the school will adopt new colors, green and yellow, to align with the high schools it feeds and will take the Phoenix as a mascot to symbolize growth and renewal. The middle school will emphasize a magnet approach with a schoolwide focus on design thinking and a specialized pathway offering electives in design thinking and computer programming. Doty said the school plans to build a maker space and offer unique electives not currently available elsewhere in the district.

\"We are in the process of changing from what we have been for the last ... 25 years to a traditional middle school where we're gonna have sixth, seventh, and eighth grades,\" Dr. Doty said. She described RISE time as a daily block for team building, goal setting and preparing students for success in middle and high school.

Council acknowledged the presentation and invited questions. No formal council action was taken at this meeting; the presentation was informational and intended to share the school's plans and timeline with the town council.","Crossroads Intermediate School principal Dr. Erin Doty told council the school will expand from a sixth-grade campus to a traditional middle school (grades 6–8) in 2026–27, add a magnet program focused on design thinking and computer programming, and adopt new colors and a Phoenix mascot.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467458,"Votes at a glance: Irmo council approves annexation, hate-intimidation ordinance and several staff contracts",1243,2535000,3778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa&start=2535&end=3778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa/thumbnail_2535000.jpg","/articles/6467458/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Irmo-council-approves-annexation-hate-intimidation-ordinance-and-several-staff-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467458-55e2f74cf20d888609fe3b2c57c04739/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569562&Signature=XIQvbP6pMVagsoAMCxUsT9paNgKbp~u4eOC8aGB4dcyj27JYhntW~hvhjc140qKy44~b3BjFmAQy93CK2ZpS2Ez1mMsJM2x1vl~vDolJfapUhh7QP-tsRG9EnuSRW08OzBjW2e6fb5W7d7Dly9wfKDAaP9WZ2gMR1k~t4Oj2JPhf7bUqWN4VUL90buarJ8LCCgJ2TjJ-W4e4U1CNiS5cFoH-Sl4cqUnDxLsN2bI490s9BU1nNDJAdFVkg7hs70dNk-DLxcO5~Y51K5R11YRLR1ewggwvWq6ofWikoeV6jpazwouHlGkZCrMMzOZY8QHaejOMN4UFU7cc1E0MrVWaUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Irmo council recorded votes on several ordinances, a tax expenditure resolution and staff contracts at its September meeting. Key outcomes:

• Ordinance 25-11 (annex and rezone of roughly 18.92 acres near Dreher Shoals Road and Dutch Fork Road) — approved on second and final reading. Roll call: Ward — yes; Penfield — yes; Coleman — yes; Dr. Waldman — yes; Mayor Danielson — yes.

• Ordinance 25-12 (adds hate intimidation to Town of Irmo municipal code, chapter 22) — approved on second and final reading by roll call. Recorded votes: Ward — yes; Penfield — yes; Coleman — yes; Dr. Waldman — yes; Mayor Danielson — yes.

• Ordinance 25-13 (creates an economic development grant program to recruit, retain and encourage annexation of new businesses; permits code compliance inspector to issue municipal summons for business-license violations) — passed on first reading. Roll call recorded in favor by council. This measure provides business-license relief provisions (e.g., up to three years of waived license fees for qualifying small brick-and-mortar businesses under 10 employees) as described by staff during the introduction.

• Ordinance 25-14 (regulates vegetation overgrowth on residential and commercial properties to protect public safety and property maintenance; authorizes municipal summons for noncompliance) — passed on first reading. Council described the measure as focused on safety and nuisance abatement rather than residential landscaping style.

• Resolution 25-09 (approval of accommodations-tax committee recommendations) — approved. Staff recorded a total disbursement recommendation of $88,302.21.

• Contract with MPA Strategies (public relations / public information officer services) — approved for the next annual year; staff described the arrangement as a part-time external PIO role on a flat-fee basis.

• Contract with Watershed Consulting Group (annexation plan development) — postponed to a definite time (amended motion to move consideration to the October council meeting). The motion to postpone carried by roll call.

Motions were moved and seconded as recorded in the minutes. Roll-call tallies were read aloud by the town clerk for the items listed above. Items that passed on first reading will return for a second reading before final adoption as required by ordinance.","At its September meeting the Town of Irmo council passed multiple ordinances and contracts, approved accommodations-tax expenditures, and postponed a consulting contract to October. Vote tallies were recorded by roll call where indicated.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467463,"Irmo council approves annexation of nearly 19 acres at Dreher Shoals and Dutch Fork Road amid resident objections",2038,549000,2587000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa&start=549&end=2587","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793080-6bce7a08757bc386d38e477124c50afa/thumbnail_549000.jpg","/articles/6467463/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Irmo-council-approves-annexation-of-nearly-19-acres-at-Dreher-Shoals-and-Dutch-Fork-Road-amid-resident-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467463-e7d829612a08bac2cc1af0917ae9400c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773569562&Signature=PYDQTAEuZRvBCDI~69sWsUorYj3JmY0yrslwDn-B8DqnSjUYxaZU2orfiuicmLiycnYf84Aln~nrn0aOgZb9JBmwI~xfkx9je9eWQ9N-IEYxZzMI-u3zVWr9LA2bcm7GDjzdbUb81srXVe-1i87ZmI-DjAgzw7KM8rto2xWZ-2UMWz-XAlefVZWz7vbmFv3a7u7X5wDFsB6WTif5crqts3aWusb0n~gVSqCFzBumiMonLZaFl1uaVo1ahcAjbt9qYedwINuAjBrmLnryqng-sWlBOBb6DL3MsdKIW3CpYxU-WBm6H90zuJ4rh-7DEMw9aucn2RBxD1-8ZWo4bzuEtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Irmo council voted on the second and final reading of Ordinance 25-11 to annex roughly 18.92 acres — including parcels listed as R03303-03-03, R03303-03-04 and R03302-01-11 — and rezone them from Richland County RT (residential transition) to CG (general commercial). The parcels sit southeast of the Walgreens at the intersection of Dreher Shoals Road and Dutch Fork Road.

The annexation drew multiple speakers during the public hearing who said the neighborhood would bear traffic and safety strains from additional commercial development. \"I'm more concerned about the safety and the strains it's putting on public safety,\" said Adam Rayner, who gave his address as 1030 Old Town Road. Diana Harder said she has lived in the Ballantyne area for 40 years and asked council to \"treat your neighbors in Ballantyne the way you would want to be treated.\" Joshua Taylor, who lives on Charing Cross Road, said the area has \"already enough traffic\" and that more development will cause \"more accidents, more traffic jams.\" Henry Martin urged clearer signage and more outreach when property owners seek annexation.

Council debate focused on the town's comprehensive land-use plan, property owners' rights, and the need for more community input. \"We have a comprehensive plan; it's a plan, not a dictate,\" said Councilman Penfield, who described weighing the long history of efforts to develop the property and the owners' right to sell. Councilwoman Coleman and others said they heard residents' concerns about process and urged improvements to public engagement; Coleman said she remains mindful of process concerns but voted in favor because the proposal is consistent with the town's land-use plan.

Mayor Danielson described his pro-growth mandate from voters while also saying the town will continue regulating quality of development. \"I was elected mayor on a pro growth strategy,\" he said, adding that Irmo will use its ordinances and oversight to shape development.

Council called the roll after discussion. Lisa, the town clerk, recorded votes as: Ward — yes; Penfield — yes; Coleman — yes; Dr. Waldman — yes; Mayor Danielson — yes. The motion carried and the ordinance passed on second and final reading.

Details recorded in the ordinance and staff presentation indicate the annexation would bring the vacant property at the southeast corner of Dreher Shoals Road and Dutch Fork Road into town limits and reclassify zoning to CG. Council members repeatedly said subsequent site development would be subject to the town's permitting, zoning and design standards; several councilors said they would pursue additional overlay or architectural review approaches to address quality and neighborhood fit.

Residents asked the council to consider buffers, traffic mitigation and clearer notice when annexation or rezoning is proposed. Council members acknowledged those concerns and said they will consider process changes and potential overlay tools in future meetings.

The council's approval moves the parcels into Irmo jurisdiction; specific development proposals and site plans remain subject to separate reviews and approvals.","The Town of Irmo council voted unanimously on the second and final reading of Ordinance 25-11 to annex about 18.92 acres southeast of the Walgreens at Dreher Shoals Road and Dutch Fork Road and rezoned the parcels to General Commercial. Residents who spoke at the public hearing raised traffic, safety and process concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighbors raise stormwater, traffic and privacy concerns over Water Walk plans

Crossroads Intermediate plans to become Crossroads Middle School with magnet program and new mascot

Votes at a glance: Irmo council approves annexation, hate-intimidation ordinance and several staff contracts

Irmo council approves annexation of nearly 19 acres at Dreher Shoals and Dutch Fork Road amid resident objections