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Final-plat steps approved for Communities of Burwell; commissioners raise school-bus and traffic safety concerns
Summary
Planning commissioners authorized final‑plat advertising for multiple Communities of Burwell phases and discussed a possible internal loop the school district could use to reduce bus pick‑up/drop‑off on Knighttown Road; commissioners agreed staff would contact the school board and developer to explore options.
The Berkeley County Planning Commission accepted staff recommendations to move several Communities of Burwell final plats toward public hearings and also discussed traffic and school-bus safety tied to the development.
Staff asked the commission to determine final-plat readiness and to advertise public hearings for Communities of Burwell Phase 11 (file 2410-301) and Phase 12 (file 2410-302) for consideration on May 5. Phase 11 was described as proposing 28 residential lots on about 20.15 acres served by public water and sewer; Phase 12 proposes 18 residential lots on 1.86 acres. County Engineer Doug Smith had deemed the sections compliant with the subdivision ordinance, and staff recommended advertising the May 5 public hearing for final-plat approval. Commissioner Lewis moved and Commissioner Truitt seconded motions to accept staff recommendations; both motions carried with no recorded opposition.
During discussion of Phase 11, commissioners and staff addressed traffic, prior traffic studies, and school‑bus routing. Staff described the project’s review history and said prior traffic studies and DOH reviews were done under older ordinance requirements; updated warrants and left‑turn analyses would be triggered by future phases or development quantities. Commissioners noted heavy use of Knighttown Road at school pickup and drop-off and discussed a possible internal loop through the subdivision that school buses could use instead of stopping on the main road.
One commissioner suggested staff could notify the Board of Education and the developer to make them aware of the internal access and community concerns about public safety during school pickup and drop-off. County staff agreed to prepare a brief exhibit or email for the school system; commissioners asked to be copied on any correspondence. Commissioners emphasized they were not directing bus routes but said raising awareness with the school board and developer could help identify mutually agreeable solutions.
Staff will proceed with final-plat advertising for hearing on May 5; any required engineering improvements, triggers for additional traffic analysis, and responsibility for future road improvements will be addressed in subsequent phases or as required by DOH and developer agreements.
