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Edgefield Planning Commission recommends rezoning three Greenhouse Road parcels despite school-safety concerns
Summary
The Edgefield County Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Dec. 11, 2025, to recommend that three parcels off Greenhouse Road be rezoned from general commercial to industrial commercial and sent the recommendation to County Council after commissioners said state and federal regulation, buffers and development-stage traffic studies would mitigate local concerns.
Chairman James Burt said the Planning Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 11, 2025, to recommend that County Council rezone three parcels off Greenhouse Road (parcel numbers 174-00-00-072-00, 174-00-00-071-00 and 174-00-00-040-000) from general commercial to industrial commercial.
At a public hearing before the vote, a resident who identified herself as Ashley urged commissioners to consider the risks of placing industrial activity close to Douglas Elementary. "I'm kind of concerns with the primarily due to the close proximity to the school and crops," Ashley said, adding that students within a mile of industrial pollution sources have shown lower test scores in some studies and that nearby facilities have caused respiratory illnesses in other jurisdictions.
Vice-Chair Lisa Whitaker and Commissioner Tracy Walsh responded during the commission's discussion. Whitaker noted that the proposal includes a "75 foot buffer all the way around" and that the applicant plans to use water-sprinkler systems to control dust. "Also on the noise complaint, it would be no more noise than is there already," Whitaker said, adding that site access and road improvements would require DOT approval at the development stage. Walsh said the asphalt manufacturing industry and similar operations are "highly regulated" at the federal and state levels and are monitored regularly.
County staff member Hart Clark emphasized that the rezoning vote does not approve a development plan. "This is a rezoning application. They have not even started the development application. When they get to the development application, we'll have a full traffic study to look at and that will tell us a lot more about the traffic situation," Clark said.
Vice-Chair Whitaker made the motion to recommend the rezoning; Karlene Butler seconded. The commission voted 5-0 in favor, with Chairman Burt announcing the ayes. The recommendation will be forwarded to County Council for final consideration.
The commission did not take questions or set conditions beyond noting that later development review will require DOT approvals, traffic studies and standard state and federal environmental controls.
