The City of Columbia council advanced ordinance 4563 — the Water's Edge at Taylor Landing preliminary PUD master plan — on first consideration after several homeowners spoke against the proposal and the developer offered to answer questions.

Homeowners cited a number of concerns at the public hearing and during the council agenda discussion. Joshua Moore said he had consulted an attorney who found the city’s procedure "legally deficient," delivered a written letter to council and noted a petition he said contained over 200 signatures from Taylor Landing residents. Mariva Walsh and other homeowners described traffic and safety concerns at River Road, potential increases to HOA costs and strain on shared amenities (Taylor Landing was described during testimony as encompassing roughly 70 acres with 200 townhomes and 99 single-family homes).

Developer Cliff Smith (CPS Land) attended and offered to answer technical questions; the city attorney told council the item was properly before the body and recommended that motions explicitly state findings of whether the proposal met the zoning ordinance. A council member moved that the PUD meets zoning requirements; the motion was seconded and approved on first consideration. The vice mayor recused himself from discussion and the record reflects an abstention. Council recorded at least one 'No' vote (council member Houghton) but the item passed first consideration.

Why it matters: The PUD would add rental units within an existing subdivision and homeowners argued it would change neighborhood character, increase traffic, create potential liability for HOA-maintained amenities and further strain water and other infrastructure. Petition signatures and repeated public comment indicate sustained neighborhood opposition; the council’s first-reading approval advances the ordinance but additional readings and official findings are required before final adoption.

Quote selection:
"Copies of his letter are being provided to each of you... Our combined petitions now have over 200 signatures opposing this ordinance," Joshua Moore told the council during public comment.
"I respectfully request that you listen to your constituents and your tax base and vote no on this ordinance," homeowner Mariva Walsh said.

Next steps: The ordinance passed on first consideration and will return for subsequent readings where council must make written findings about compliance with the zoning ordinance before final adoption. Interested residents and the developer may be called back to answer additional questions at later readings.