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Commission approves seven‑story infill apartment plan with cycle‑track improvements
Summary
The planning commission approved a major site plan for a seven‑story, 237‑unit apartment building at 875 Catawba Street that includes a wide cycle track, sidewalk, underground stormwater detention, and street landscaping; the approval includes staff conditions and a request to add bollards at driveway crossings.
The City of Columbia Planning Commission approved a major site plan (S Plan 20250018) for a seven‑story, 237‑unit multifamily building and parking garage at 875 Catawba Street, subject to staff comments and incorporation of a recommendation to add bollards where the new cycle track crosses driveways.
Staff reported the site is currently vacant and will be combined to about 2.1 acres. The developer proposes a seven‑story building with 237 apartments, amenity space and a parking garage, 80 bicycle parking spaces, and public‑realm improvements including a 13‑foot bike lane (cycle track) and an 8‑foot sidewalk along Lincoln Street to tie into the city’s bike‑walk program.
Mark D’Souza, the project civil engineer, described an underground stormwater detention system that will pump and discharge toward the CSX rail corridor using a level spreader; the team said they are coordinating with CSX on drainage acceptance and with the city on utility and stormwater details.
Commissioners raised a traffic study item showing potential level‑of‑service impacts near the Greek Village intersection; the applicant said the predicted effect arises in build and no‑build scenarios due to pedestrian volumes and was not solely attributable to the project. Reagan Freeman of Palmetto Walk Bike supported the project as Columbia’s first cycle track and asked the commission to require bollards at driveway crossings so drivers would not confuse the cycle track with an extra vehicle lane.
A motion to approve the site plan subject to staff comments and to address Freeman’s bollard request passed by voice vote. The applicant and staff will finalize engineering, stormwater, and construction plans in coordination with city standards and CSX as needed.
