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Sumter County Council denies rezoning request for 1350 S. Pike E. after Sherwood Forest residents object
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Summary
Sumter County Council unanimously denied second reading of RZ-23-10 to rezone a 26.6-acre portion at 1350 S. Pike E. from R-6 to General Residential (GR) to allow a mobile home park after multiple Sherwood Forest residents raised concerns about crime, tree removal, wildlife and property values.
Sumter County Council on Tuesday denied second reading of rezoning request RZ-23-10, blocking a proposal to rezone roughly 26.6 acres at 1350 S. Pike E. from Residential-6 (R-6) to General Residential (GR), a change the applicant said was intended to permit a mobile home park.
Helen Roodman, Sumter County’s Planning Director, told council the acreage represents the R-6 portion of a larger 29-acre tract and that the property would require substantial investment — including tie-in to a sewer pressure main and one or more lift stations — before development could proceed. Attorney A. Paul Weissenstein Jr., representing owner C. D. Spangler, described the site’s history and said a nearby mobile home park had been refurbished and contributes about $50,000 a year in real-estate taxes.
Multiple residents who live in the Sherwood Forest subdivision opposed the rezoning during the public hearing. Regina Tucker, who identified herself as president of the Sheriff’s Advisory Council, said the neighborhood was made up of single-family homes and urged council not to “look at profit over people,” citing local crime statistics she said were provided by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Tracy Moore and Chad Snavely raised concerns about loss of trees and wildlife after recent clear-cutting near Little John Lane. Tiffany Williams said she bought her first home in the subdivision in 2007 and feared the mobile home park would devalue neighboring properties. Irene Lucky Harris, a longtime Wellington Road resident, said she was too old to move and feared crime would increase. Councilman Carlton B. Washington responded that, given the concerns expressed, he would not support the rezoning.
On a motion by Vice Chairman James R. Byrd Jr., seconded by Councilman Vivian Fleming McGhaney, council voted unanimously to deny second reading of RZ-23-10.
The denial leaves the property zoned R-6; the Planning Department noted the parcel is within the Suburban Development Planning Area and that future development would need to align with the Sumter 2040 Comprehensive Plan and resolve utility access and infrastructure requirements.
Council action: RZ-23-10 denied on second reading; no alternate motion to continue or remand was recorded. The council meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.