The York County Planning Commission on Jan. 8 approved Waiver W‑25‑10, allowing a reduced driveway separation for a proposed Dashing Food Store at 3474 Highway 21 in the Fort Mill community (tax map 7210000055).

Planning staff reported the application seeks a deviation from the 325‑foot driveway‑separation requirement on a posted 45 mph road; staff said the applicant obtained a traffic impact analysis (TIA) and concurrence from DOT for the proposed driveway location but could not reach a shared‑access agreement with the adjacent McDonald’s. Staff recommended approval, finding the applicant demonstrated unnecessary hardship because the lot has limited frontage and there is no feasible alternative access until DOT’s planned realignment projects are built.

Mark Shirkland, the project civil engineer, told commissioners the team negotiated with DOT and the county, that McDonald's declined a shared access, and that the chosen 152‑foot separation (a 173‑foot deviation from the 325‑foot standard) was the only access DOT would approve now. “We tried to negotiate an access to share it with McDonald's. We got shot down from them,” Shirkland said. He added that a future Highway 51 realignment and a planned light are expected but not yet constructed, so the waiver was necessary to give the site access in the near term.

A motion to approve the waiver was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded on the transcript. Staff noted final civil engineering, sight‑distance checks and any DOT conditions will be reviewed during permitting.