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Commission recommends rezoning at 427 Hardin Street to single‑family medium lot
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning 427 Hardin Street from RM‑1 (residential mixed) to RSF‑2 (residential single family, medium lot). Neighbors and historic‑preservation advocates urged the commission to limit multifamily conversion to protect a 100‑year‑old house.
The City of Columbia Planning Commission recommended approval of ZMA‑2024‑0016 to rezone 427 Hardin Street (TMS 11311‑03‑07) from Residential Mixed District (RM‑1) to Residential Single‑Family, Medium Lot District (RSF‑2).
Speakers at the public hearing urged the commission to approve the rezoning to protect the character of the neighborhood and a 100‑year‑old house on the parcel. Sydney Rex, a resident and property owner in the area, told the commission residents were ‘‘in favor of this very strongly’’ and cited concerns about the growth of student housing. Neighbor Caitlin Hayward said she and her spouse had invested heavily in restoring an adjacent historic house and that conversion of the parcel to multifamily use would “devalue our house to a point that we will lose most of it.”
Several other neighbors and neighborhood association members told commissioners the property is near 5 Points and serves as an important visual and historic entry to the area. Myers Trulock described the parcel’s house as a ‘‘100‑year‑old house’’ at risk of demolition under the current zoning and recommended the RSF‑2 rezoning to protect the home and the neighborhood’s housing stock. Nikki Finney, a University of South Carolina professor, said the house’s interior and architectural character are irreplaceable.
Staff explained the rezoning request came at the request of a council member and noted the city’s recent Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) translated prior district names but did not materially change allowed uses; staff also said the parcel is posted for sale and there was not an active application before the commission to redevelop the site. Staff explained that under RM‑1 the property could allow multifamily development (and, depending on lot area and setbacks, could support multiple units), while RSF‑2 restricts the site to single‑family detached residences.
A motion to approve the rezoning passed. The commission’s recommendation now moves to City Council for a final decision; staff said council would mail notice to the property owner and adjacent owners and hold a 30‑day public notice period before council’s hearing.
Votes at a glance: ZMA‑2024‑0016 (427 Hardin Street, TMS 11311‑03‑07) — commission recommended approval to City Council.
