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Residents urge council to preserve Abel neighborhood as owner seeks commercial rezoning for Highway 93 parcels
Summary
A contentious public hearing on Aug. 3 drew dozens of residents urging the Clemson City Council to deny a rezoning that would change four Abel Road parcels to CP-2 commercial zoning; supporters say the change would help longtime local business Hubbard Young Pharmacy relocate, while opponents say rezoning runs with the land and threatens neighborhood safety and character.
The Clemson City Council heard dozens of public comments Aug. 3 over a request to rezone four parcels at the corner of Highway 93 and Abel Road from residential designations to CP-2 commercial.
Jacob, a city planner, described the proposal as a rezoning of four lots—two fronting Highway 93 and two behind on Abel Road—explaining the change would move the parcels from multifamily/residential categories to CP-2 commercial consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. The applicant, who identified himself at the hearing, said the property is roughly 0.8 acres in total and that a prior Mercy Housing federal grant opportunity that prompted an earlier multifamily designation is no longer available.
Residents who live adjacent to the parcels urged council to preserve the residential buffer behind the frontage. Russell Oberspiel of Linwood Drive asked council to “vote no on the requested rezone of the 4 parcels,” stressing that zoning “runs with the land, not the current owner,” and warned rezoning could permit any CP-2 use in the future. A Veil Road resident appealed to council on child-safety grounds, saying Veil Road is “a narrow residential road where our children play” and asking, “whose child has to get hit before we consider this a safety hazard?”
Supporters—including several who submitted online comments—said the rezoning aligns with the city's future land-use map and would help long-standing local businesses. Stephanie Platt said she is “all for the rezoning,” calling pharmacies essential businesses and noting set hours reduce traffic concerns. The applicant emphasized community outreach—including door-knocking and a neighborhood cookout—and said they plan to work with the state DOT on access and traffic triggers if the project advances.
Council adjourned the public hearing after public comment and indicated formal deliberation and a vote on the rezoning will occur at a later meeting; no final zoning decision was recorded during the Aug. 3 session.
