City Planning Commission "Approves" Lowe's Shopping Center

At tonight's meeting, the City Planning Commission approved rezoning the Issaqueena Trail site to permit the Lowe's Shopping Center. The rezoning replaces the 2002 Ordinance, which was the compromise outcome of the Walmart controversy, with a new "Planned Development" Zoning Ordinance that allows a big box store the size of a Lowe's with a garden center.

Voting FOR the rezoning and the proposed shopping center were:

Del Kimbler, Chair of the Planning Commission
Julie Craig
John Peters

Voting AGAINST were:

Bob Smith
Elaine Richardson

Planning Commissioners David Allison and Spencer Bryan were absent and did not vote.

Professor/Commissioner David Allison could not attend the meeting and was not permitted to vote in absentia. He has fundamentally opposed the development, arguing that the site should be used for neighborhood commercial development, and not for the proposed regional shopping center that will draw traffic from halfway to Easley, Anderson, and Seneca. Allison submitted a written statement that we will try to reproduce here later.

Commissioner Bob Smith raised objections about the way the review of the developer's proposals were handled by the Commission. Quoting State Law (if I heard correctly), he addressed his critique to Chairman Del Kimbler, whom he indicated kept too tight a rein on discussion and procedure.

(Although Smith was not referring specifically to this point in his objections to the Planning Commission's review procedure (and while protocols may have been followed appropriately), it should be noted that the developer had far more time and latitude to present their position. The ratio was the difference between hours and minutes: whereas the developer presented their case for hours over the course of these meetings, the public comments could be counted in minutes. It was clear to anyone who attended these meetings that public discussion on planning and zoning related matters was not given the same generosity of time or hearing as the developer and their hired consultants. The result of this is that members of the public were intimidated and refrained from speaking.)

After indications of thoughtful concern about the development, particularly the gas station and convenience store, Julie Craig's support for the project was surprising.

John Peters supported the project in part because of the gas station proposed for the corner of Issaqueena and 123. Citing the closing of the two gas stations at 123 and College Avenue, he said that Clemson needs more than just two gas stations. Peters wasn't being facetious when he said that Clemson has just two gas stations, and, for a moment, this seemed like a reasonable position. But actually, according to my count, Clemson has 6 gas stations.

The final approval of the Lowe's Shopping Center now turns to City Council, which will meet next week to hear the matter. Keep posted for updates on that meeting.