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Blythewood Residents Speak Out Against Rezoning

COLUMBIA – The Richland County Planning commission heard a request Monday night, Dec. 2, for a rezoning that would allow as many as 300 apartment units on almost 20 acres located on Wilson Boulevard immediately south of Turkey Farm Road.  The address of the 19.8-acre property is 10141 Wilson Boulevard (TMS # R14800-05-11).

In a 6 – 2 vote, the commission made a recommendation to Richland County Council to disapprove of the request. However, the commission’s recommendation is non-binding on county council which will take the first of three votes on the matter at a zoning public hearing to be held at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the county council chambers, 2020 Hampton Street in Columbia.

The applicant, DuBose Williamson, representing Canvas Residential Partners out of Charlotte, is requesting the property be rezoned from HM (Homestead) zoning classification to GC (General Commercial) zoning which would allow for multi-family living units as well as commercial development and light industrial uses.

According to Richland County Zoning Director Geo Price, the parcel lies within the neighborhood low density designation of the county’s comprehensive plan, and is not located within a neighborhood activity center as prescribed by the comprehensive plan.

“The staff recommends ‘Disapproval’,” Price said, “because the requested zoning is not consistent with the recommendations of the comprehensive plan.”

In an email to The Voice, Price also clarified that the rezoning request is for the General Commercial (GC) zoning designation.

“Any uses permitted outright within the GC zoning district would be allowed on the parcel,” Price wrote. “While the applicant has expressed an intent to establish a multi-family use on the property, approval of the requested rezoning does not limit the applicant to this specific use.”

Granting the rezoning request would allow not only the 300 apartments, but it would allow the property owner to use the land for a broad range of almost 100 commercial uses characterized primarily by retail, office, and service establishments, in a primarily automobile-oriented environment, according to the county’s planning staff’s report. Those permitted uses include fleet terminals, service stations, heavy vehicle wash facilities, as well as manufacturing, assembly, and light fabrication.

Based upon a gross density calculation, the maximum number of units for this site is approximately 317 dwelling units, according to the staff report.

The area where the 19.8-acre property is located is primarily characterized by undeveloped parcels, and residential properties. Eight Blythewood residents who live in proximity to the parcel spoke out Monday night against the rezoning.

Fourth generation owner of property on nearby Folk Road, Janet Robinson, told the commission they must stop approving development within the Hawkins Branch watershed.

“It’s imperative that this county learns from what happened in 2015,” Robinson said. “My property has been irreparably damaged because of this kind of development permitted in the watershed. This is irresponsible development and has to stop.”

Longtime Turkey Farm Road resident Glen Didyoung said he recognizes growth is coming, but called for smart growth that maintains the integrity of the existing area landscape.

“Smart growth considers the consequences of inappropriate rezoning,” Didyoung said. “To inappropriately alter the landscape of the neighborhood by changing the zoning and to fit a plan – that doesn’t fit – into the landscape of the area is not smart growth. Apartments and businesses don’t fit in this neighborhood.”

Ryan Copeland said he’s only lived in Blythewood for four years, and enjoys the peace and quiet of his neighborhood.

“I want to protect the integrity of this area,” Copeland said. “The density of 300 apartments would equate to 450 additional cars – a lot of development in this area has not been planned well.”

Westwood High School is located on Sharpe Road West, approximately 3/4 of a mile southwest of the subject parcel.

The 2015 Richland County Comprehensive Plan, “PUTTING THE PIECES IN PLACE”, designates this area as Neighborhood (Low Density). Low-density, single-family neighborhood developments are preferred in this area, the staff report states.

Price told the commission that the planning department’s staff recommends ‘Disapproval’ of this map amendment as it is not consistent with the 2015 Comprehensive Plan recommendations. 

“Although the proposed map amendment would allow for retail and commercial uses along a primary road,” Price said, “the subject site is not located within a Neighborhood Activity Center and is not within a contextually-appropriate distance from an intersection, as prescribed by the Comprehensive Plan.

The issue will be on the Richland County Council’s Dec. 17 agenda for a rezoning public hearing and the first of three votes council will take on the rezoning. That is the last chance the public will have to publicly address council concerning the proposed development. Those wishing to address council about the rezoning should arrive a few minutes early to sign up to speak. The public will not be allowed to speak at the two meetings where the last two votes are taken.

Council chambers are located in the Richland County government building, 2020 Hampton Street in Columbia.

BLYTHEWOOD – Three weeks ago, Mayor Sloan Griffin unilaterally hired a deputy administrator who, The Voice has learned via Google, is under criminal investigation by SLED (State Law Enforcement Division).

Griffin hired Tiffany Cooks on Nov. 7 as the Town was searching for an assistant town administrator. He announced her hiring in an email on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

Town Administrator Daniel Stines had formed a search committee the first of September, 2024, composed of the mayor, the town marketing manager, the town administrator, and two Manor employees.

After interviewing 16 applicants, the committee offered the job to one then another of the three finalists. The first choice, then the second choice applicants turned the job down in succession after each accepted counter offers from their current employers. 

Griffin then dispensed with the committee and the remaining 14 applicants and took over the search, himself, settling on Cooks, who had not applied for the job. Griffin notified council members and town hall staff of the hiring in an email. Griffin also decided to change Cooks’ title from assistant town administrator to deputy town administrator. 

Cooks had applied for the town administrator’s job earlier this year but, by law, council hires that position, and the majority of council did not select Cooks. 

A native of Buffalo, NY, Cooks was elected Williamsburg County supervisor in 2018, but was defeated when she ran for reelection in 2022.

A Google search revealed that Cooks had been accused of while serving as Williamsburg county supervisor, and that she is under investigation by SLED.

A spokesperson with SLED told The Voice on Monday, Nov 18, that Cooks is being investigated, but would not disclose any other information about the investigation except to say that it had been prompted by a call from Kelvin Washington, Cooks’ successor as the Williamsburg County supervisor, on Feb. 10, 2023, to investigate the case. The investigation was formally opened on Feb. 28, 2023.

When The Voice asked Griffin about Cooks giving herself multiple financial supplements in her position as Williamsburg County Supervisor, he dismissed the issue, saying, “Wasn’t that during a natural disaster? You have to go back and look at the dates to see if they were under Federal declaration.” 

To that end, Griffin shared a Facebook comment posted by Cooks in July, 2024, about the overtime pay in question. It said, in part: “As per page 13 of the county policy approved in 2015, the County Supervisor can approve overtime for both exempt and non-exempt employees during declared and undeclared disasters.”

The Voice has been unable to reach Cooks for comment. 

“There are some places where they have to give overtime to all staff in order to qualify for certain funds,” Griffin said. “But I’m not going to get too deep into that stuff. I’m not worried about it. If something comes out, something comes out …this is just stuff like MPA. It’s too much politics. She [Cooks] hasn’t been indicted on anything,” he said. 

In a press release that Griffin sent Nov 18, announcing Cook’s hiring to The Voice, the Minority Eye website, the Blythewood town administrator, the town’s attorney, town clerk and marketing employee, he noted that Cooks holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Ashford University, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy focusing on Applied Management and Decision Science from Walden University. 

“As Deputy Town Administrator, Dr. Cooks will oversee critical operations, spearhead grant initiatives, and work closely with the mayor and local stakeholders to implement strategic growth and enhance community services,” the release stated.

Asked to comment on Cook’s hiring process, Councilwoman Andrea Fripp declined.

“I will refrain from commenting on the appointment, by the Mayor, of Dr. Cooks until the conclusion of the SLED investigation,” Fripp said.

Councilman Rich McKenrick and Mayor Pro Tem Donald Brock felt differently.

“It would be my hope that our Town government follow established procedures while hiring for any town position,” McKenrick said when contacted by The Voice. “Our town leaders should be looking for the most qualified individuals through the interview process and consider all available information when considering a candidate, specifically, in this particular matter, an ongoing SLED investigation that has been publicized repeatedly for some time in the media.”

Brock said he had questions not only about the candidate’s circumstances, but about the hiring process in general.

“It’s my position that the hiring of Ms. Cooks under these circumstances is quite concerning. I have numerous questions for the mayor regarding this hire and look forward to having them answered,” said Brock. “The SLED investigation not withstanding, the fact that it appears that the hiring process was circumvented is also concerning. 

“I feel these questions must be addressed by the entire governing body. We are the stewards of the Town and must be diligent in all aspects of the Town’s operations,” Brock said.

Councilwoman Erica Page did not respond to The Voice’s request for comment.

Cooks currently serves as the town administrator for the Town of Estill, SC, where she spearheaded transformative projects, including the $250 million ‘Project Green Spark,’ aimed at economic and community development, according to the mayor’s press release.

Asked if Cooks, who will be paid $90,000 annually, would report to Town Administrator Daniel Stines, Griffin said she would report to both Stines and the mayor. Stines, who previously served as the Town’s interim administrator, is paid an annual salary of $107,000.

Griffin said Cooks will report to work at Blythewood town hall on Jan. 13, 2025. He said she has 27 years of experience in public safety, local government and emergency management as well as an exceptional record of academic and professional achievements.

During an interview with The Voice about his hiring of Cooks, Griffin said that, as strong mayor, he will be doing the hiring for all town hall employees, and that Stines will hire employees for public works positions and other similar jobs.