By Al Dozier
More than 100 residents packed the Irmo Town Hall Thursday and voiced strong opposition to a huge new development that would bring hundreds of new homes to a site along the shores of Lake Murray.
The presentation was hosted by the developer, Material Capital Partners, based in Charleston. It was designed to provide the public with details on the project and answer questions. But the plan must go before the town’s zoning commission for approval. It will also need final approval by the Irmo Town Council.
The planning commission will meet on July 8. Whatever is approved would go to two town council readings on July 16 and August 20. The outcome is uncertain.
In an interview with The Irmo News, Irmo Mayor Bill Danielson did not voice opposition to the development but said he does not know how the council will respond.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.
While residents are concerned about the impact of such a large new development, change is destined to come, according to Danielson. The mixed-use zoning now in place would allow for many new types of development that probably wouldn’t go through all of the site preparations promised by Material Capital Partners.
He said the zoning commission’s recommendations would likely play a key role in what happens next.
Irmo Councilwoman Barb Waldman, who attended the presentation, was asked by The Irmo News how she thought the council would respond to the project.
“It’s too early to tell,” Waldman said.
Many residents were not happy with plans for the new development named The Water Walk, which will span 64 acres.
It would be situated at the intersection of Dreher Shoals Road, Salem Church Road, and Muskrat Run. The project would include single-family homes and town home with 550 units and assisted living homes. There are also plans to include a boutique hotel with up to 50 rooms.
One of the most frequent complaints made during the meeting was the impact additional traffic would have on roads that are heavily traveled in the area.
“The traffic on Highway 6 is very heavy and there’s no plan to fix it,” said one resident. Several residents said the highway needs to be widened.
Developers responded that traffic concerns would be addressed by state and local regulations already required for new development, but that didn’t go over well.
“We expect you to go to DOT,” said one resident. “Don’t ask us to go.”
Citizens also cited the need for buffer zones around the development and adequate storm-water ponds.
In response to those questions, Dave Craig, director of development for Material Capital Partners, said: “We can work on that.”
Another resident said developers need to come up with a more detailed plan to address all of the concerns such a project raises.
Craig repeatedly pointed out that local and state rules and regulations are already in place to assure safe development in residential areas.
