Residents urge council to require traffic study before Palmetto Pines development

John Newland, who identified himself as “a resident on Arthur Road,” told Florence County Council the proposed Palmetto Pines development could generate “700 to 1000 trips per day” and said neighbors worry the narrow, dead‑end rural street cannot safely absorb that traffic without improvements. He asked the county to require a full traffic impact study before any approvals move forward.

“Arthur Road is a narrow, rural dead end street serving established neighborhoods and families,” Newland said. “Portions near the proposed entrances have steep ditch drop offs and limited shoulder space.” He told the council he and neighbors are “not opposed to growth” but want the county to ensure roadway safety, emergency‑response access and overall infrastructure capacity before permitting the project.

Charles McPherson, who also addressed the council, echoed the concern and urged denial of any variance that would allow the development to proceed without adequate infrastructure. “I strongly encourage if that’s the case that that variance be denied because the community can’t handle it,” he said, adding that costs to upgrade roads or safety features should not fall on existing residents.

Council members and staff questioned whether parts of the project area lie within city limits and who would be responsible for any road improvements. One exchange noted Carriage Place is inside city limits and that any encroachment or access permissions may be a city responsibility, but several speakers also raised the need to review covenants and deed restrictions that could affect utility or emergency access through adjacent neighborhoods.

The council did not take an immediate vote on the Palmetto Pines project during the meeting; residents asked the county to delay approvals until traffic, permitting, utility and covenant issues were reviewed and made transparent.