The City of Simpsonville’s planning commission is set to hear a second presentation on a proposed development of NE. Main St. At last month’s meeting, the commission made no recommendation on the request and forwarded it to the July meeting. That meeting is slated for Tuesday, July 6.
The proposal being considered is a plan to build 48 townhomes on the 9 acres of property bordering NE. Main St. The front portion of that property that bounds, Northeast Main is already zoned for commercial. Ford Elliott of E&H Property LLC plans to develop the property with six rows of townhomes and a common area as a buffer between the structures. The project is to be called “The Haven” and would be serviced by the Simpsonville Fire Department, sewer service and Greenville water.
The proposal has caused an uproar by residents in the vicinity of the development. According to neighbors bordering the south edge of the property the increased traffic would be unbearable. NE. Main St. at the proposed entrance to The Haven is a four-lane road without a turning lane. The plan at present is to create right hand turn lanes only to enter and exit the property.
Several citizens spoke at the planning commission’s meeting last month, and plan to appear at the July meeting. Petitions have been organized and signs are being prepared to make the public aware of this potential development. The property in question is a heavily wooded dense forest in one of the oldest subdivisions in the City of Simpsonville. Concerns have been raised about loss of wildlife habitat and general uneasiness over the added changes that are proposed.
This project is just one of several that are planned for NE. Main St. Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and a new chicken franchise are in the works. And with the city planning to sell the City Hall building, a developer is rumored to be ready to develop that property which may include the two banks bordering City Hall.
The city is currently celebrating a revitalization of downtown and with that comes the increase in traffic as well as park-ing issues. Plans for several one-way streets in downtown are being considered but atten- tion to NE. Main St. needs to be a priority.
Once the planning commission makes a decision on their recommendation, the proposal will be presented.■
