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Council approves rezoning for townhomes after resident raises traffic and scale concerns; two other ordinances pass
Summary
Hartsville's council approved Ordinance 4490 to rezone property on Presswood Drive for townhouse development after resident Matthew Lusk urged caution on scale and traffic; the meeting also passed Ordinances 4488 (humane society lease) and 4489 (historic preservation addition).
Hartsville's City Council voted April 8 to rezone a parcel on Presswood Drive from R1 residential to B2 commercial to allow townhouse-style development, approving Ordinance 4490 on its final reading.
Resident Matthew Lusk told the council he was "not opposed to the development" but urged care on the project's scale and traffic impacts, asking how many units were planned and what mitigations the city and developer would provide. "Can the lot not remain residential and the already approved adjacent lot be sufficient?" he asked.
City Manager Daniel Moore said the preliminary plan anticipates "anywhere between 8 to 12" townhome units, each with shared walls and individual driveways, and that the project will follow existing height, setback and buffering rules and undergo staff review. He told the council the planning commission gave a positive preliminary recommendation.
Council members said the rezoning only makes the use allowable and that elevations and final design will be reviewed later; the council then approved the ordinance on a voice vote.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 4488, a final reading to lease 149 West Carolina Avenue to the Darlington County Humane Society, passed after no public comment; Ordinance 4489, an amendment to historic preservation guidelines to add 118 West Carolina Avenue to Historic District 1, also passed on final reading following ARB recommendation.
The rezoning clears the way for the developer to pursue detailed site plans and design reviews; council members recommended the developer engage neighbors on aesthetics and buffering as the project moves through staff and permitting steps.
