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Tag: Golf Club of SC

  • Rec plan may be on the table

    BLYTHEWOOD – As homeowners in Crickentree brace for a second rezoning request that could allow as many as 600 homes to be built on the 183-acre former Golf Club of South Carolina, Town Councilman Bryan Franklin announced to council last week that there could be a light at the end of the tunnel for residents.

    Franklin said he met with the executive director of the Richland County Recreation Commission, the board chair and two Crickentree residents – Traci Cooper and Russ St. Marie – about the residents’ desire to have the golf course property either remain green space or be used as a much needed recreation facility for youth in the Blythewood area. The latter, however, hinges on the county purchasing the property from the owner, E-Capital, a Texas investment firm.

    “The discussion was very productive,” Franklin said, adding that the Richland Conservation Commission had already sent a letter to council in November 2016, in support of the resident’s desires for the property’s Traditional Residential Open Space (TROS) zoning to remain in place. That letter asked county council not to rezone the property, but to leave it as a conservation district, Franklin said.

    “The Recreation Commission committed to write a similar letter to county council before the June 3 planning commission [makes a recommendation to council on the issue]. We’ll have those two support letters, many letters from Crickentree residents and any emails the mayor and council send. County council will have all that documentation before they weigh their decision of how to vote,” Franklin said.

    E-Capital’s second application for a zoning change, this time for Low Density Residential (RS-LD) zoning. would allow 3.63 homes per acre. A previous request by the company for Medium Density Residential (RS-MD) zoning was withdrawn last month shortly before county council was to take its vote.

    The residents have appeared at several council meetings since February, even before the issue appeared on the agenda, asking that the property retain its TROS zoning for use as a recreation facility. Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson, who represents the Crickentree community, was quoted in The State newspaper last month, saying, “The County is not purchasing that property.”

    The newspaper also quoted Dickerson as saying that it caused ill will that Blythewood Mayor J. Michael Ross approached the Richland County Recreation Commission about purchasing the property before the first rezoning request was filed. The mayor skirting County Council and pitching a plan to the recreation commission for land not in the Blythewood city limits was out of bounds, Dickerson was quoted as saying.

    “If he wants a park, he can put it in there,” she said of the city of Blythewood.

    Ross said Dickerson was probably just frustrated.

    “As we work with the recreation commission, we’ll keep the county council informed so they don’t feel like we’re running an end-around as I believe the state paper quoted,” Franklin said. “All we’re doing is when you have a recreation desire in the community, it’s very logical that you go to the recreation commission first, not directly to the Richland County Council,” he said.

    “We desperately need sports fields out here,” Franklin said. “In Blythewood, if your children play soccer, you have to go all the way to Polo Road to play. So you get home from work at 5:30 and have to pick the kids up and drive from here to Polo in all that traffic. It’s difficult to make it on time.”

    “Hopefully the county will agree to purchase it,” Franklin said.

    “This is what a local government getting involved in an area outside the town should do – promote what is best for the town,” Ross said. “It does affect all of us in this area.”

  • E-Capital pulls rezoning request

    COLUMBIA – More than a hundred residents of Crickentree breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday night at a Richland County Council public hearing after the Texas investment firm, E-Capital, withdrew its application for the rezoning of the former Golf Course of South Carolina.

    The withdrawal was announced by County Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson at the beginning the hearing on the rezoning. Dickerson represents much of the Blythewood area, including Crickentree.

    E-Capital’s proposal to rezone the golf course from Traditional Recreational Open Spaces (TROS) to medium density residential (RS-MD) would allow  up to 600 homes to be developed on the 183-acre property. TROS is a zoning category designed to protect golf courses, ensuring that they remain open green space.

    Residents fear smaller lots and hundreds of additional homes will lower their large-lot home values and further congest already unmanageable traffic in the area.

    Robert Fuller, attorney for E-Capital, spoke with The Voice after the meeting. He was asked if E-Capital plans to come back to council and request a different zoning classification for the property.

    “I don’t know,” Fuller said. “I can’t say what they will do. Nothing has been decided.”

    In attendance at the meeting and signed in to speak in support of the residents, Mayor J. Michael Ross has been forthcoming in public meetings about his desire for the county to purchase the golf course property and turn it into recreational opportunities for the northern Richland County area.

    A story on the front page of The State Monday morning laid bare Dickerson’s irritation with Ross over that proposal.

    “If he wants a park, he can put it in there,” Dickerson was quoted in The State. According to the newspaper, Dickerson was miffed that Ross had “approached the Richland County Recreation Commission before the rezoning request was filed.”

    The story quoted Dickerson as saying that “caused some ill will when the mayor skirted County Council and pitched a plan for land not in the Blythewood city limits.”

    Later in the day on Monday, Ross emailed County Council members.

    “I wanted to reach out before tomorrow night’s meeting and express to you my concerns about the rezoning of the Crickentree property. Even though it was pointed out in The State newspaper today that the property being discussed is not in our town, it sure is close!!! If you don’t think another development of 200, 400 or 600 homes right down Langford Road doesn’t affect our town and its citizens, well I know you do! I encourage all of you to do what you and I were elected to do and hear the people’s wishes and vote in favor of preserving this wonderful green space in northern Richland County.  If this is rezoned and the TROS classification is lost, it will only be the first in this area to go.  The Windermere Golf club property will be right behind it.   I hope you, like me, would like to see a pause or hold on all the home development in northern Richland County especially when it devours ‘green space!’”

    The email ended with Ross’ trademark lightheartedness.

    “Thanks for all you do and, Mrs. Dickerson, I still know we are the best of friends no matter what!”

  • Golf course zoning up for vote

    Council Meeting Set for April 23

    BLYTHEWOOD – Crickentree residents who oppose the proposed rezoning of the former Golf Course of South Carolina may have their toughest battle yet on April 23 when the issue goes before Richland County Council for first reading.

    Last month, the County’s Planning Commission voted 7-1 in the resident’s favor – to recommend that Council not change the zoning of the golf course, which shares a border with Crickentree, from its current Traditional Residential Open Spaces (TROS) to Medium Density Residential (RD-MS) use.

    But that win was only the first step in the residents’ effort to defeat the rezoning bid. The request for rezoning will now have three readings (votes) by County Council. The first, on April 23, will be the only opportunity that residents will have to address council about the issue. If Council votes is in favor of the rezoning at that meeting, it will hold two more readings without residents being allowed to speak. If council votes against the rezoning, the issue will be dead for another year or until a different zoning classification is requested.

    Crickentree residents have been reaching out to residents of other golf course communities to attend as well, since those golf courses could be affected next if the Golf Course of South Carolina is rezoned.

    The County planning staff has recommended approval of the rezoning, saying it complies with the county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan which recommends for that area to be zoned RS-MD in the future. That zoning designation would allow up to 600 or so homes to be built on 8,500 square foot lots.

    But while the planning staff makes that recommendation, it also concludes that approval of the request may promote a density which is not consistent with that of the established and proposed developments of the adjacent and proximate subdivisions (Hunters Run, The Park at Crickentree, and Crickentree).

    Attorney for E-Capital, Robert Fuller, laid out a plan for the property to be developed under medium density zoning, but promised that no more than 237 homes would be built, not the 600 or so allowed under the requested zoning classification.

    Commissioner Heather Cairns interrupted Fuller’s presentation to point out that the Commission’s responsibility was not to consider the plan he was presenting, but to consider whether 186 acres should be rezoned to allow 8,500 square foot lots over its entire existence.

    Resident Russell St. Marie also challenged Fuller’s plan for development of the property.

    “E-Capital is on record that they have no intention of developing this property,” St. Louis said. “They merely want to get the zoning changed and sell the property to a developer.”

    Under questioning by the Planning Commission Chair, Stephen Gilchrist, Richland County Zoning Director Geonard Price said that, according to the purpose statement of the TROS ordinance, it was to insure preservation of conservation, recreation and open space.

    The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 23 at the County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton Building. Those wishing to sign up to speak for or against the rezoning will need to arrive early to sign up.

    For more information call the County Ombudsman at 939-6000 to direct your call to the planning staff or call Concerned Citizens of Crickentree at 803-719-1242 or visit SaveGolfCourses.com.

  • BW still looking to expand ball fields

    BLYTHEWOOD – For at least five years, town council has, off and on, been looking at ways to expand and improve the ball fields available to Bly­thewood baseball and softball teams. While the county made several hundred thousand dollars of improvements to the town’s current (county-owned) ball fields about four years ago, adding new fencing and restrooms, it did not add ball fields.

    Golf Club of South Carolina proposed for Blythewood ball fields.

    During council members’ comment time at the July coun­cil meeting, Councilman Bryan Franklin, whose children play on the fields, brought up once again the town’s need for more ball fields.

    “Ten days ago, the last of our Bly­thewood Youth Baseball teams fin­ished their run for the Dixie Youth Little League World Series,” Franklin said. “Four of our teams made it to state playoffs this year. With the help of Town Administrator Brian Cook, we are going to go to the Richland County Recreation Commission with some of our statistics on the last five years and how good our teams have gotten and how badly we need an upgrade of our Blythewood Park fields.”

    Franklin said he had received some communications from Crickentree residents that, since the golf course in the Crickentree neighborhood had gone into foreclosure, it would make a great venue to put some ball fields on the course.

    “I know that’s not in the town lim­its,” Franklin said, “but it’s a great idea. If we can’t get Richland County to move forward with more fields in Blythewood, then maybe we can get them to create a few new fields in some of those open [golf course] spaces,” Franklin said. He said Katie Rummel, secretary of the Blythewood Youth Baseball and Softball League, suggested that youth ball fields might be preferable for those concerned res­idents of Crickentree neighborhood who own property right on the golf course and are worried about homes being built on the course.

    Rummel told The Voice that she hopes the county, as a preventative measure, might buy the golf course property and use it to build a new sports complex for all sports including baseball, softball, lacrosse, football, soccer, etc.

    Franklin said he plans, with Cook, to take some of these ideas to the county.

    Another option for more ball fields, Franklin told The Voice, is the prop­erty where Bethel-Hanberry sits if and when the school district rebuilds the school on property behind the current school building and demolishes the current building.

    “When that happens,” Franklin said, “I would like to see that property used for more ball fields. That would help expand the current overcrowded park.”

    Franklin said he is working on an opportunity to go before the Richland County Recreation Commission and discuss these issues in depth.

    Related:

  • Golf Club of SC in foreclosure

    Crickentree residents fear plan to replace entire golf course with 450 homes

    Crickentree residents heard E-Capitol’s presentation on Monday. | Barbara Ball

    BLYTHEWOOD – After years of struggling financially, the Golf Club of South Carolina closed last week. The Club is entered off Langford Road and much of the golf course borders the Crickentree subdivision, which is accessed off Kelly Mill Road. One side of the golf course is the back yard to many of the 145 expensive, uniquely-designed Crickentree homes that boast large lots, some up to two acres in size.

    A Texas investment company, E-Capitol, which holds the note and mortgage on the golf course property, initiated foreclosure proceedings on the course in March. Once the foreclosure is complete, E-Capital expects to purchase the course and build about 450 homes on it.

    450 homes could replace Crickentree Golf Course.

    This is not sitting well with the 75 or so Crickentree residents who showed up at the Hilton Garden Inn on Farrow Road Monday night to hear E-Capitol’s attorney Jake Barker, with Gaybill, Lansche and Vinzanti, explain his client’s plans for the golf course

    property if they, indeed, become the purchasers.

    “Once my client owns the property, they will pivot from the foreclosure process to the development process,” Barker said. “They will sell the property to a developer who will then develop it.”

    But Barker was careful to explain that the golf course will be developed as residential property, not a golf course. To make that transition would require a rezoning from the current TROS (Traditional Recreational Open Space) zoning classification to a residential zoning classification.

    That rezoning is where the residents feel they have a foothold to stop the development of hundreds of homes on small lots in their backyards.

    The TROS zoning classification dates back to 2007 when the planning commission added a zoning classification to the Richland County land use plan to protect golf course communities throughout Richland County from becoming the victims of rampant residential development.

    The question is, now, will county council vote to change the zoning to protect E-Capitol’s investment and satisfy the developer or keep the current zoning in place to protect the Crickentree property owners’ investments and quality of life they say they moved there for.

    “Before the rezoning process begins,” Barker told the homeowners gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn, “we want to get feedback from the Crickentree neighborhood as to what you would like to see. The golf course was not meeting its obligations and could not continue on,” Barker said. “I understand none of this is ideal for you, but we want to have a discussion with you. We want to work with you.” Barker said.

    The course, outlined in black, is partially bordered by Crickentree subdivision.

    While the anxious crowd of homeowners vowed to fight any rezoning effort that would result in smaller lots and a crowding of hundreds of homes onto the golf course, as the hour-long meeting continued, Barker suggested the possibility of building fewer homes on larger lots with a buffer as wide as 100 feet separating the golf course homes from the current homes.

    “That’s all possible,” Barker said. “These drawings are our initial, conceptual plans to develop it. We want feedback. We want to hear from you,” Barker insisted.

    Asked about the pricing and size of the homes that would be built on the golf course, an engineer representing E-Capitol’s interest said he didn’t know. He said that would be determined by the eventual developer.

    Barker said there is no timetable for the actual foreclosure and purchase of the golf course, but that it would take place in Richland County circuit court, and had been referred to Judge Strickland, the master of equity for Richland County.

    “Once the foreclosure process is finished,” Barker said, “the property will be sold at auction, and any third parties can come and bid at that sale.”