Planning Commission conditionally approves Cottage Green Phase 2 master site plan

The Simpsonville Planning Commission on Sept. 1 voted unanimously to conditionally approve the Cottage Green Innovative Development District Phase 2 master site plan and will forward the recommendation to city council.

Staff framed the review as a master site plan check for conformance with the innovative district and earlier council commitments. John Derby, planning staff, told commissioners the submission covers three commercial outparcels and that the renderings are illustrative; the review is to determine whether the project adheres to council-approved intent. Daniel Merritt of Seaman Whiteside, the applicant's engineer, said the residential portion is already under construction and that the commercial pads are presented as illustrative. "Those are currently designed. The traffic engineers are working through SCDOT with that, and and we fully intend to, you know, incorporate that as the requirements," Merritt said, referring to roadway improvements connected with the development.

During public comment, resident Rod Folk reminded the commission of a prior commitment to intersection improvements at Harrison Bridge and Fairview, urging the city to enforce those improvements or deny permits or certificates of occupancy if they are not completed during this phase. After brief commissioner questions and staff clarification that SCDOT and the city will require necessary traffic changes, Commissioner Howard Lance moved to conditionally approve the master site plan on the condition that the applicant address technical review comments from staff; the motion passed unanimously.

The approval is a recommendation to city council; final construction permits and any site-specific engineering approvals will proceed after the applicant satisfies outstanding technical comments from staff.