Planning commission recommends denying Westinghouse rezoning after residents raise environmental and cultural concerns

The Richland County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of a rezoning request from Westinghouse that would have changed about 52.71 acres at 5801 Bluff Road from AG (agricultural) to HI (heavy industrial).

County planning staff told commissioners that the property’s future‑land‑use designation is “conservation” under the county comprehensive plan and that the uses permitted in the HI district would not support the plan’s recommendations. Staff recommended disapproval for that reason.

The case drew about two dozen people to the podium. Christopher Knight, who identified himself as representing Westinghouse, said the company wanted the additional acreage to expand manufacturing and to pursue a newer, lower‑emission production process. "We are asking for the additional 53 acres…to go to LEU Plus fuel technology," Knight said during his two‑minute presentation, explaining the company expects the…