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Residents urge delay on Ardan Mill annexation, citing traffic, habitat and pond risks
Summary
At a lengthy public hearing on the Ardan Mill annexation and MXU rezoning, multiple Spring Branch and Nims Lake Road residents urged council to deny or delay approval, raising traffic safety, loss of mature woodlands, dam and water‑quality concerns; the developer requested a deferral and council said it would not vote tonight.
Several dozen residents addressed the council during a public hearing on the proposed Ardan Mill annexation and mixed‑use rezoning, focused on traffic safety, potential damage to a nearby pond and the loss of about 80 acres of mature woodland.
Jack Wendell, who lives on Nims Lake Road, said the project’s scale would overburden narrow neighborhood streets. “We want to put 200 houses down at the end of that road,” he said, adding that the additional homes would bring hundreds of cars and increase cut‑through traffic and speeding in the area. Resident David White told the council that the area is an important habitat and that “once water quality degrades it is darn near impossible to get it back.” Frank Pope pressed officials on the risk to the Spring Branch Pond dam and potential flooding for homes located below the dam.
Other speakers asked for clearer commitments on buffers, limits on construction access, and accountability for dam maintenance and stormwater infrastructure. Carolyn Wright asked council to ensure protected species such as bald eagles are considered. Linda Anderson asked who would be financially responsible if pond protections fail and homes were flooded.
Planning director Penelopey Keragunas told the meeting that the developer has asked to defer so it can “reduce the overall density and increase open space.” Mayor Savage confirmed the council would not vote at the meeting and said the developer requested a delay; staff indicated the item will return for consideration at a later meeting (staff mentioned June 22). The public hearing was then closed.
Why it matters: The Ardan Mill proposal would change land now in York County into Fort Mill municipal zoning (MXU) and add substantial housing and infrastructure in an area residents say already faces congestion and stormwater challenges. Council and staff repeatedly emphasized that projects already in the town’s approval pipeline would not be affected by any moratorium or deferral.
Next steps: The council will consider the developer’s revised concept when it returns; the mayor said council will take public comments into account before any future vote.
