New Development Plan for Prime Lake Wylie Property Faces Opposition

Several dozen homes might soon be added to the prime but contentious property near the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie. On Monday, the York County planning commission voted 3-1 to recommend rezoning 215 acres on the Concord Road peninsula, anticipating development into the Legacy Park subdivision. However, it is unclear how many homes this would include.

Residents Express Concerns Over High-Density Construction

In recent years, the property neighbors requested the county repeatedly not to permit dense residential construction in the area, including just ahead of Monday’s significant vote. The final decision on rezoning rests with the York County Council, which requires three votes and a public hearing. The dates for these pivotal votes and the hearing are yet to be announced.

Details of the Rezoning Plan

The rezoning application, submitted in June by the property owner Titan Land Partners, suggests the rezoning might lead to the construction of approximately 34 homes. The attached subdivision plan indicates 38 lots. Despite this disparity, an official subdivision proposal is yet to be submitted, and this rezoning could allow for the construction on lots as small as 1 acre. This has invoked concerns among residents.

“Max Number of Homes won’t be built”

However, the county planning manager, Diane Dil, eased the stirred-up concerns. She predicts that due to the topography, coves, and other physical features of the area, it is not feasible to build 215 homes or one per acre. Residents are hoping for the county to keep lots at least 5 acres and maintain 20% open space, as per Dil.

Limitations for Lot Size

According to planners, several constraints in the property might make construction less profitable. Given that homes would be on well and septic, any lot size less than 5 acres would need to meet rigorous traffic and environmental requirements. Additionally, utilities cannot cross a vital bridge on the peninsula or navigate under the lake bed. If the lot size falls below 2 acres, additional permits would be required.

Past Attempts and Future Predictions for Lot Development

In 2004, Duke Energy considered selling almost 500 acres near its Catawba Nuclear Station. But they deferred due to the ongoing federal relicensing work. A meeting held in 2017 by Duke saw nearly 200 Concord Road residents expressing their concerns about traffic, public safety, and environmental issues arising out of high-density development. The single road to these homes passes a nuclear station, thereby magnifying the risk in case of an emergency.

Previous Defeated Development Plans

At the beginning of 2020, an approved plan for developing the Peninsula at Lake Wylie fell through after a series of sought changes and site conditions. Titan Land Partners purchased almost 250 acres of this property from Duke Energy two years ago for $5 million.

Prospective Expensive Residential Properties

If new homes come to the Concord Road peninsula, particularly on larger lots, they could be expensive. Water proximity seems to be a common feature among the highest-end homes in the region. In the past 18 months, the tri-county Rock Hill region witnessed 217 home sales at $1 million or more. Lake Wylie accounted for 24% of them.

In Conclusion

The final decision on the issue of rezoning and the development plan for Concord Road peninsula still hangs in the balance. The opposition from residents and environmental constraints are significant considerations, but so are the potential benefits of denser residential development in this attractive location.