The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission voted Thursday night to table a vote on the controversial housing development project on South Route K until next month.
Doug Wheeler, chair of the commission, says the applicants requested the issue be tabled on Wednesday due to concerns for public objections. Wheeler says the delay of the public hearing will allow more discussion and communication with neighbors.
“Anytime that we can encourage the parties to have a dialogue prior to having the public hearing, that makes our process better, more efficient, and we come out with a better product,” Wheeler said.
The proposed South Route K project covers an area of 35.8 acres located just north of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.
Wheeler says the plan received some opposition because of the potential environmental impact to the nearby park and the higher density of residential houses that will result from a different housing style. The proposal includes 11 villa-style duplexes and 65 single-family homes. But the surrounding existing houses are all single-family housing. Villa-style duplexes will have higher density than single-family houses.
The rescheduled public hearing for the project will be on Jan. 10.