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Blythewood council directs staff to draft letter opposing nearby county rezoning
Summary
The Blythewood Town Council voted to direct staff and the town attorney to draft and file a letter opposing a Richland County rezoning request for parcels adjacent to the town, citing infrastructure and school impacts; the move follows public and council concern about yellow signs advertising a Dec. 8 planning commission hearing.
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — The Blythewood Town Council on Nov. 24 voted to direct town staff and the town attorney to draft a letter opposing a Richland County rezoning request for parcels contiguous to town limits, saying the proposed higher-density residential zoning could strain local infrastructure and schools.
Council members first raised the issue after spotting yellow signs advertising a Dec. 8 meeting of the Richland County Planning Commission and potential rezoning of property near Fulmer Road. One councilmember told colleagues the “infrastructure currently cannot handle that kind of growth on Fulmer Road” and urged a preemptive letter to Richland County Council. Counsel warned the council about Freedom of Information Act limits on adding final-action items without required public notice, and council amended the agenda to include the matter under new business before taking direction.
Why it matters: Council members said the town’s comprehensive plan and existing town zoning favor lower-density uses; council voiced concern that denser county zoning adjacent to town limits could increase traffic, demand on emergency services and school enrollment. Counsel advised that the county planning commission will make a recommendation to county council, and that written comments submitted through the planning process are part of the public record.
What the council did: After discussion about whether signatures should be individualized or issued on behalf of the town, the council approved a motion directing the interim town manager and the town attorney to draft a letter expressing council’s opposition to the rezoning and to file it with Richland County Planning (action recorded in the transcript and by roll-call vote). Counsel said the drafted letter would state the town council’s position based on the majority will of the council and would be sent to the county planning process.
Who said what: In the meeting, the council member who raised the signs argued the rezoning would be “premature and damaging to Blythewood right now.” The town attorney cautioned that adding an item requiring a final vote on short notice could invoke FOIA procedural requirements. A different councilmember said staff would draft a clear statement that the town is “opposed to rezoning” because of infrastructure and school impacts; the interim town manager confirmed staff would prepare the document.
Next steps: Staff and the town attorney are to prepare the letter for submission to Richland County’s planning process. Several council members indicated they also plan to contact county council members individually.
Transcript provenance: The council first raised the rezoning signs during council remarks (transcript excerpt: “yellow signs up, for Richland County Planning Commission for December 8, request to rezone some property.”) and concluded the directive after debate during new business (direction and roll-call recorded later in the transcript).
