By Al Dozier
An Irmo resident is challenging the town of Irmo’s plan to allow a developer to come up with a revised proposal to build the controversial Water Walk development on the shores of Lake Murray.
Mayor Bill Danielson confirmed that Judge Daniel Coble heard a challenge at an Aug. 30 hearing brought by Irmo resident Adam Raynor, who contends the town can’t consider a revised proposal on the 500-home development.
Raynor told the judge the town is taking a “procedural shortcut” that favors the developer.
But Danielson said the town’s legal staff responded that the town is following proper legal measures.
Judge Coble hasn’t ruled on Raynor’s challenge, but Danielson said a decision is likely to come soon.
Raynor, who is not an attorney but filed the action on his own behalf, contends the town would violate its own ordinance by considering a revised version of the developer’s plan after the town issued a denial on the original plan. He contends that developer Material Capital Partners must wait up to a year to resubmit plans for the 65-acre property to the town.
However, Irmo attorney William Edwards argued that the town council has the authority to approve or reject the planning commission’s Aug. 12 recommendation, and nothing in the town ordinance or state law prohibits a developer from revising their plans before that process is complete.
A statement from the town indicated the planning commission could consider a revised version of the development, perhaps as soon as next month.
“The developer is considering making changes to the proposal,” Irmo posted to social media. “If changes are made, the revised proposal will be reviewed by the planning commission again. If the proposal remains unchanged, it will be reviewed by the town council on Sep. 17.
